Ten residents spoke during a public hearing on the Biddeford High School referendum question at the Oct. 6 city council meeting. All but one spoke in support of spending $34 million to renovate the building.
Resident Roland Pelletier said the renovations are needed after years of budget cuts.
“You can’t spend enough money on education,” he said.
Bil Moriarty, a resident and city council candidate, said the “dilapidated” school needs to be fixed to ensure children receive a quality education. Biddeford High School senior Ryan Fecteau read letters of support for the referendum and encouraged all residents to vote in favor.
“The need is great and the time is now,” he said.
Resident Mary Turnes said she moved to Biddeford so her children could take advantage of programs offered at the high school. She said real estate values are closely connected to the quality of schools. Turnes said students receive an excellent education from “dedicated, dynamic teachers,” but need to learn in a safer building.
Richard Rhames, a city council candidate, said the high school has been in bad shape for many years. He said decades of neglect needs to stop.
“[The front step] have been patched and re-patched and the patches have been patched,” he said. “And that’s just the stuff that shows easily.”
Resident Ron Peaker was the only person to speak against the referendum. He disputed claims from city officials that the building’s condition could jeopardize the school’s accreditation. He said school officials are using “scare tactics” to garner support for an expensive project. Peaker urged residents to vote for the referendum only if they feel they can truly afford to pay more taxes.
“It is simply a question of money,” he said.
According to city Finance Director Curt Koehler, borrowing $34 million over 25 years will have an average tax impact of 93 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value during the period of repayment. For a home valued at $200,000, the tax bill would go up $186 per year or $15.50 per month.