Ballot Question Arguments Sought

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The Board of Selectmen is looking for interested parties to draft arguments pro and con for the following questions scheduled to be on the Nov. 3, 2020 Presidential Election Ballot: 

Question 1
Shall the town of Sudbury be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to acquire the parcel of land shown as Mile Post QBS 3.40 to QBS 4.80 on a Railroad Map dated July 22, 2020, prepared by CSX Transportation, Inc., and a Plan dated July 20, 2020, copies of which are on file with the Town Clerk, consisting of 11.26 acres of land, more or less and any and all incidental and related costs associated therewith?

            Yes _____  No ______

SUMMARY: The 2020 Annual Town Meeting held on September 12, 2020 voted to approve Article 17 authorizing a borrowing of $1,220,500 for the acquisition of a former rail corridor from CSX Transportation, Inc. The property is being acquired for open space, conservation, passive and active recreation purposes including rail trail/bicycle path, general municipal purposes, for water protection and water supply purposes, and for all other lawful purposes.

This ballot question seeks to exclude from the Proposition 2 ½ levy limit the amount needed to be raised by taxation to pay the principal and interest on bonds issued to pay for this land purchase. If this debt exclusion question is approved, permanent bonding will be obtained based on actual expenditures, which amount may be reduced by grant funding.

The estimated impact on the tax rate for bonding $820,500 ($1,220,500 reduced by $400,000 in expected grant funds) is: $0.02 per $1,000 assessed value at the highest point of the bonding period (based upon a 10-year bond at 1.75%). For example, the tax impact on the 2020 average home value of $746,260 is estimated at $15 in the first year of debt service, and would average approximately $14/year during the bonding period.

A “yes” vote on this question will authorize the Town to exclude from the levy limit the debt service required to repay the loan for the land purchase, and allow the acquisition to move forward.

A “no” vote will mean that the September 12, 2020 appropriation for the purchase will be null and void, and the Town cannot purchase the property at this time.

Question 2
Shall the town of Sudbury be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay for the bond issued in order to design, permit, construct, and renovate the property located at 40 Fairbank Road, also known as the Fairbank Community Center and Atkinson Pool, and any and all incidental and related costs associated therewith, including without limitation the professional, design, engineering, and project management services, preparation of plans, specification and bidding documents, borrowing costs, purchase of equipment, technology, and furniture, as well as site preparation, demolition, landscaping, and relocation services and costs?

            Yes _____  No ______

SUMMARY: The 2020 Annual Town Meeting held on September 12, 2020, voted to approve Article 22 requesting funding for the development and completion of a new building to be known as the Fairbank Community Center which will include space for the Senior Center, Parks and Recreation, and the Sudbury Public School offices with renovation of the existing pool area and replacement of accessory areas. The proposed building will also provide adequate emergency shelter use.

This ballot question seeks to exclude from the Proposition 2 ½ levy limit the principal and interest to pay for this project. If this debt exclusion receives approval via this ballot, bonding will be obtained upon completion of the project based on actual expenditures.

The estimated impact on the tax rate for a $28,832,000 project is: $0.31 per $1,000 assessed value at the highest point of the bonding period (based upon a 30-year bond at 3%).  For example, the tax impact on the 2020 average home value of $746,260 is estimated at $231/year during the bonding period.

A “yes” vote on this question will authorize the Town to exclude from the levy limit the debt required to fund the project expenditures connected thereto.

A “no” vote will mean the project cannot go forward.

If interested, please provide the following:

1. Submittal info:
   1. Organization name (if applicable)
   2. Contact name, phone number and email
   3. Ballot question for which position will be provided
   4. Whether the position will be a pro and/or con argument
2. Draft pro/con wording, no more than 250 words.

Please provide the above via email to selectmensoffice@sudbury.ma.us by 9AM on Wednesday, Sept 30, 2020.

Please contact the Selectmen’s Office with any questions at 978-639-3381 or selectmensoffice@sudbury.ma.us.

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