Letter to the Editor About the Flanders Road Upgrades

On November 5th, Groton will vote on 2 referendum questions. A $5.345 million Police Station upgrade bond and a $9.9 million Flanders Road water and sewer upgrade bond.  

First, let’s talk about the Flanders Road project:

Groton’s Flanders Road water and sewer project is an expensive gamble. Return on investment will not happen for way OVER 20 years, albeit only if we get $40 million of assessed value on day 1 (highly unlikely). And this is ONLY PHASE I. Proponents want a Phase II which is another $7 million bond to go across I-95 ending at Noank-Ledyard road. I am all for economic development, however there are other areas that already have these services such as Poheganut Drive and around Groton Airport. 

Costs to the town are $9.9 million in principle, and $6.23 million in interest (63%). Mill rates will skyrocket due to steep revenue decline and the added costs of the new bonds. Just in new bonds alone the increase in mill rate will be 1.43 mills in FYE ’15, with a peak of 1.57 in FYE’17. (Info from the town finance dept. to the RTM) 

We need to save our borrowing power for our schools. Good schools and low taxes attract residents and businesses. Groton has had a bad history of putting forth expensive projects. (Phase I and II of schools, Thames St and the Animal shelter) With an expected drop of $2-3 million in the grand list, this is a bad idea right now.

We will follow up next week on the Police Station upgrades. 

Respectfully,

Scott Aument/ Groton RTM