The MSAD51 School Board voted on September 19 to send the new primary building and facilities improvement proposal to referendum. Voters will decide on November 8 whether to approve the $73.9M project, which has been 3 years in the making.
Questions about the impact to mil rates and taxes in North Yarmouth and Cumberland have been raised. Officials from both towns have stated their support and commitment to getting the bond passed.
School capacity has been a topic of discussion in recent years. In the September 8 District Newsletter, Superintendent Jeff Porter emphasized the District has “far exceeded the school's capacity.”
On September 13, officials from North Yarmouth, Cumberland and MSAD51 School Board met for a two-hour comprehensive review of the District’s new primary building and Mabel I. Wilson school renovation plan.
Fewer than 10 residents attended the Tri-Board meeting in Cumberland Council Chambers, which included a project overview by Oak Point Associates similar to its June presentation to the School Board.
MSAD51 Director of Finance, Human Resources & Operations, Scott Poulin, summarized the debt service schedule and steps that have been taken to phase in the total cost. Over a 5-year period beginning in 2026, mil rate is estimated to increase for both towns by $0.50 annually, for a cumulative increase of $2.50. For North Yarmouth, this would bring the mil rate to $20.60, assuming no other change to current mil rate.
The tiered increase would utilize $5M from the undesignated fund balance to leverage timing of anticipated debt service decline in 2031 to enable a phased impact to mil rates.
Selectperson Kate Perrin thanked Poulin for this strategic long-range financial planning. “It feels good to see years of some pretty solid fiscal management at the District that has built up these reserves, to then soften this sizable building cost. So, I think you must have had some really smart board members on your Board.”
The project has encountered multiple setbacks. The current new primary building proposal is for the 3rd location since 2019. If approved by voters, it returns a district school to North Yarmouth for the first time since the Memorial School closed in 2014.
In addition to renovations for the Mabel I. Wilson School, a pre-K through 2nd grade building is planned for a 76-acre lot at 80 Gray Road.
Cumberland Council Chair Allison Foster raised questions about increases to MSAD51 budget. Foster asked if the District had begun developing projections for impact to operations costs once the school opens. “I think understanding that additional volume, it will be more than $5 million, like you noted to operate that school and what does that mean for mil rate?”
Poulin responded, “We're adding square footage. There's going to be additional operating costs. Increased enrollment is increased staffing, increase custodial costs, transportation, probably less than some of the other areas we've done. We've done the split between the two communities before, but yes, there will be some additional operating cost.” The District does not have estimates of how much the increase might be.
Poulin noted annual rental cost of portable units, currently $335,000, will expire once new building opens.
North Yarmouth School Board Representative, Tom McGuinness asked about the District’s planning for other capital projects over the next 25 years.
“Well, that's a good question. And that teed it up for a conversation that Bill Shane and I had. You see where the debt service goes down in 2031, and there's a number there, 612,000? We should be really thinking as a District and both communities at that point of setting that money aside into capital reserve for infrastructure in the district. And that's what I would recommend on that,” said Poulin.
The MSAD51 School Board identified energy efficiency and use of “green” systems as priorities. According to [Tyler], the design anticipates upgrading to solar, but funding for the solar panels is not included in the proposal.
Tyler Barter (Project Manager) confirmed, “We don't have the physical panels, but we've made sure to carry any money that's necessary to upgrade the building structure, and then nearby conduits and infrastructure back to our panels that had the building set up and ready to kind of plug and play as funding becomes available.”
Cost estimates include a geothermal option. Barter assured board members, “We have actually carried the cost of geothermal in the overall project budget. But one of the things that we'll do as we start to bring the engineering back online following a successful referendum is really do a hard look at a lifecycle cost analysis comparing a couple of different options. But we have the opportunity to run you a very, very efficient, and hopefully well-designed, well-maintained system in the future.”
School Board Chair Jason Record understands the community’s concerns about safety. “I've had conversations with Bill [Shane] and Chief Rumsey and others, and the concern is valid.”
Record expressed his confidence in the District safety services. “If you snap your fingers and that building was there now and something happened, the process is already in place for a response and a backup.”
According to Selectperson Andrea Berry, one of the Select Board’s goals “is to as a board support the school and this committee in passing this project and in helping North Yarmouth residents to be supportive and informed.” Berry confirmed the Select Board “to be partners in this, but to also see if there are specific things that you hope that we will be doing as leaders in these towns to support the communications and the overall project.”
For Selectperson Amy Haile (Co-chair) in addition to cost transparency, it will be important to “highlight some pride points that people can take something to be really excited about.” Haile continued, “I think is really important that ultimately, we want people to walk away feeling like we've been honest and clear. And they are really proud of the investment that they're going to make.”
Two public information sessions are scheduled: September 27 at the GCA auditorium and October 12 at Wescustogo Hall. A public hearing is set for October 17. Absentee ballots will be available early October, and in person voting on November 8.