Ridgefield voters should be fully informed about the upcoming bond referendum on Tuesday, February 25th.
Voters will decide if the town can borrow close to $102 million for three projects; school roof repairs/replacement, an alternative high school and a new public safety building. (https://www.ridgefieldct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif4916/f/agendas/2.5.25_public_hearing.pdf)
While town officials are arguing strongly for these projects, they have not openly disclosed the total amount of money that Ridgefield taxpayers will be paying back over the 20-year term of the proposed bonds. Town Controller, Kevin Redmond and the Board of Finance Chair, Michael Rettger confirmed that taxpayers will be obligated to repay a staggering total for the three projects.
- School Roof: Estimated total principal + interest payments = $17,604,375
- Alternative High School: Estimated total principal + interest payments = $5,725,000
- Public Safety Building: Estimated total principal + interest payments = $122,515,000
Estimated total principal + interest payments for all three projects - $145,844,375
Obviously, these three sizable bonds will increase the mill rate...the formula for determining property taxes...some 5-6% over and above the baseline. That baseline, your property taxes, has been going up steadily, reflecting annual increases in the town and school budgets. Keep in mind, that these bonds won't be paid off until 2045.
There's been considerable public pushback to the most expensive project, the Public Safety Building. At public hearings last summer and two weeks ago, residents questioned the town's effort in developing less expensive options for public safety facilities. Watch these meeting videos at https://www.ridgefieldct.gov/board-selectpersons/pages/meeting-videos. The last public hearing on these bonded projects was on February 5th at East Ridge Middle School. The bonding issue discussion starts an hour into that video. First Selectperson Rudy Marconi admitted in that hearing that there's no "Plan B" for a public safety building.
There's a clear need for better facilities for our police and fire departments. But taxpayers deserve more common sense options.
Respectfully,
Ridgefield Resident