New Town Hall Funding May Need Debt Exclusion

If a new town hall is build, a debt exclusion may be needed to cover the costs. According to estimations from town finance director Randy Scollins, the town may be asked to cover $1-2 million of the costs of a new building though a debt exclusion but stressed that the costs are still estimates and are not final.

“I’m hoping to have that done by the end of this month. At that point I’ll be able to show how much it includes debt in the operating budget and how much would stick out and would need a debt exclusion,” Scollins recently told the selectmen.

Before a new building can be constructed, voters will be asked to appove article three at the Nov. 4 special town meeting which would authorize the town to use $550,000 to cover the costs of creating the blueprints and bid documents for a new town hall.

“The funding is here in a stabilization account. We don’t have to borrow at this point in time,” Scollins said.

Unlike previous projects like the high school, the public safely building, and the Boyden Library, the town hall project is being done as a two step project instead of one step which included the soft costs such as the fees to create the blueprints.

According to Scollins, the plans usually cost 10 percent of the construction costs. The estimated costs of a new town hall is around $8 million.

Leading up to the town meeting, the selectmen hope to promote their case for a new town hall though a potential special on Foxboro Cable Access and by inviting members of the public to see the condition of town hall.

“I think it would give us an opportunity to explain why we’re here, what are plans are, how we’re going to potentially finance it, how we’ve looked at lease options and the post office and all those other options,” selectman Lorraine Brue said.

According to interim town manager Bob Cutler, building commissioner Bill Casbarra has already agreed to participate.

Proponents against the new town hall have also taken to the airwaves to give their perspective on the issue. To see their position, click here.