Groton Moves Forward With $11.2 Million Bond Referendum For Roads

The Town Council has approved going forward with a referendum question that would ask taxpayers if they want to invest $11.2 million over five years to repave and maintain Groton’s roads.

Councilors voted 6-1 Tuesday to send the ordinance, which would appear on the November ballot, forward to voters. Councilor Bruce Flax voted against. Councilors Dean Antipas and Deborah Peruzzotti were absent for the vote.

Representative Town Meeting will get the ordinance next and decide whether to place it on the ballot.

Town Councilor James Streeter said the town has cut highway maintenance for years.

 “We chopped it and we chopped it and we chopped it. And I think that’s what brought this referendum to fruition,” he said. He added that Thames Street was neglected to the point it had to be rebuilt, at a cost of more than $6 million.

The road ordinance calls for $11.2 million to be appropriated for work on roads from 2013 until 2017. Of the total, $3.54 million would be spent on roads in Groton City; $986,000 would be spent roads in Groton Long Point; $6.36 million would be spent on roads in the town; and about $300,000 would be spent on financing costs.

Scott Aument, a member of Representative Town Meeting, said he believes roads should be paid for a year at a time, rather than through a bond that adds interest.

 “I agree that roads need to be fixed, but why add the extra cost of a bond?” he said. He added that Groton might need bonding debt for other projects like schools.

“God forbid we have another economic downtown” or a major employer leaves, he said.

According to memo by Finance Director Sal Pandolfo, the debt would have the most impact on taxpayers during the 2017-18 fiscal year.

In that year, the maximum impact, taxpayers would see the tax rate rise by .37 mills. On a median home assessment of $170,170, this would translate into a tax bill increase of $62.88.

In other years, taxpayers would see little impact from the bond. In its lowest year, or least impact in 2026-27, the road ordinance would push the mill rate up by .03, adding $4.66 to taxes on a median home.

The town council’s policy is to hold debt in Groton to 50 percent of the state limit, or to $321.7 million. Groton’s debt, including the road package if approved, would be below that threshold, at $59.9 million.

The financial memo on the package shows Groton would pay $2.37 million in interest on $11.2 million in road bonds, for a total of $13.35 million.

Councilor Flax, who voted against sending the referendum forward, said he believes it circumvents Groton’s political process by taking a budget item out of the hands of Representative Town Meeting.

He said Groton’s three public works departments – the city, town and Groton Long Point – should work together and figure out what it costs to pave a road.

But Councilor Mick O’Beirne said he believes sending the referendum forward to voters is an extension of the political process, not a circumvention of it.

City Mayor Marian Galbraith, speaking as a citizen and not he mayor, wrote that bonding roads would allow the community to coordinate work on roads and sewers, and to get the best price available.

“It’s a visible sign of the value we place in our town and the quality of life our residents enjoy,” she said. “By making a long term investment, we signal to residents that we are moving forward with a fiscally sound plan for improvement.”