Letter to the Editor on Marion’s Capital Spending

Apr 17, 2019

Town Meeting will vote on $11.7 million in capital spending to repair, replace and upgrade the community’s deteriorating and neglected asset base. Sewer is $5.1 million, water
$3.1 million and the town will spend $3.5 million for the general asset base.

$8 million in debt authorizations are needed to carry water and sewer project financing. Debt cost will impact taxes, sewer and water rates. To help mitigate costs of financing, a
search will be made for grants and low-cost state financing.

The $540,000 T.U.R.F. project, $582,000 trash truck with collection totes, and $350,000 comprehensive waste water management plan will cause a forecasted 7.78 percent tax increase. All other capital spending is financed by funds already on hand, including the Community Preservation Act funds.

Moving the Town House renovation from last year’s proposed debt financing to ‘pay as you go’ with the use of $800,000 of CPA funding saved taxpayers $4 million in debt
financing costs. This also includes the $132,000 from the Green Communities grant for energy efficient windows.

Sewer spending proposals are $5.1 million, including $3 million for lagoon lining. This is mandatory spending. The town must complete this project under the terms of an EPA Administrative Consent Decree with potential risks of civil and criminal penalties for noncompliance. There is no choice on this serious regulatory issue.

UV Disinfection replacement is $1.7 million. The sewer plant is approaching 20 years old. This is classical unfunded accumulated depreciation. Without this spending, the sewer plant cannot continue operating in compliance with stricter EPA requirements.

The proposed $350,000 to fund a comprehensive wastewater management plan will be paid for from a one-time property tax charge. No such plan exists for effective long-term planning and efficient management of sewer needs.

Water capital items are $3.1 million. Replacing the Mill Street water main is $2.8 million. These are all out of sight, deteriorated capital assets taxpayers never see or think about. Included is $182,000 for continuing upgrades for the Mary’s Pond wells necessary for maintaining Marion’s water supply.

Spending for engineering water line upgrades and pothole repairs and paving of Point and Delano roads are practical reasons to delay spending $260,000 of CPA money on a Point Road bike path. This $260,000 can be redirected to the Town House project, providing an aggregate $1,192,000 of available funding for the start of renovations without debt or increase in taxes.

Trash collection alternatives will be discussed by the Board of Selectmen in a public meeting May 9 at the Marion Music Hall.

Ted North
Marion