Smart rational Lincoln voters, please pay attention to the rebutting details. The CCBC continues to sell, spin and fear monger.
This will certainly not be the first ask for a budget override. With such uncertainty in the financial world and economy and the fact we are already the highest per capita taxed town in the state, Prudence must be exercised. It is fiscally irresponsible having taxpayers fund this unnecessary luxury with other less expensive/viable options and many pending critical infrastructure improvements needed in town and always unforeseen ones coming down the road. I love and respect leap and their staff. They did great things for my kids. I don't think the kids really cared if they're in a shiny new building or a mid-century Hartwell pod, but they're going to be in a pretty darn shiny, almost new building (the 98 Million dollar school) for two plus years if this project goes through; so clearly that is a viable option. The parameters have already been worked out. It should be a long-term solution as it is in so many other towns. What nice space we're all going to be paying for for the next many years that is not being utilized. Respectfully, Scott Clary 617-968-5769 Oak Knoll Sent from a mobile device - please excuse typos and errors On Sat, Jun 7, 2025, 4:28 PM David Cuetos <[email protected]> wrote: > Given the selective framing in the committee’s statement, some > clarifications are in order. > > > > The shortfall is $2.3 million. Is this project over budget because of the > tariffs? Yes. Our last cost estimate (in March) indicated that material > price increases due to current tariffs could be 5–8%. ($995K–$1.59M). > > Why did the CCBC move forward with bids if they already expected a cost > overrun? That’s a key question. It would have been more responsible to > discuss alternatives openly during the Annual Town Meeting, rather than > presenting a $2.3 million funding request with just three weeks’ notice. > > > What will be the impact on my taxes? By using Stabilization funds, there > is no immediate impact on the tax bill. However, using these funds now > means they will not be available for future expenses. > > To put it in perspective, the $2.33 million shortfall equates to about > $1,235 for the average household in Lincoln. That’s on top of the $6.75 > million transfer from reserves approved last year, an additional $3,759 per > household. If this project is voted down, an average of $5,000 in tax > relief *per household* could be made available. It is therefore not > accurate to say that there would not be an immediate impact on our tax > bills. > > And that’s before factoring in debt service. At current rates (4.6% over > 30 years), annual debt payments would total $970,000 per year, or $515 > annually per household—for the next three decades. > > > What happens if the additional funding is not approved at the Special Town > Meeting? > > The bonding and reserve transfers approved last year become void, as the > Committee itself has acknowledged the original plan can’t be delivered with > the previously allocated funds. A revised project would require fresh > approval from voters. > > > > > Is there a no-cost option? > > Yes! These renovations are discretionary. LEAP has already demonstrated > that it can operate out of the school building if the Pods are no longer > suitable. It may not be their ideal setup—but voters need to ask whether a > $26 million price tag is justified to avoid a backup option that’s already > viable. > > David Cuetos > Weston Rd > > On Sat, Jun 7, 2025 at 13:05 Krystal Wood < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> *Please Join Our Informational Forum * >> *Wednesday June 11 7pm, Hartwell Pod B.* >> >> CCBC Questions & Answers for June 2025 STM >> >> The Community Center Building Committee (CCBC) has received bids and has >> identified the General Contractor (GC) for construction to begin in July. >> Because market conditions have changed so significantly in recent months, >> the low bid exceeds the budget we established back in March 2024. We are >> requesting some additional funding at the June 25, 2025, Special Town >> Meeting (STM) to ensure >> that we can meet the potential construction and schedule needs. Listed >> below are answers to questions you may have. >> >> What budget did the March 2024 Annual Town Meeting approve to build the >> Community Center? >> The budget approved by voters is $24,019,104. >> >> What does this amount include? >> New, net zero, one-story construction on the Hartwell Campus, as >> displayed in the concept design. It meets full program needs of COA & HS, >> PRD, and LEAP, maintains and/or enhances safety of play areas and >> pedestrian/cycling connections. >> >> What was the construction budget , and what is the lowest General >> Contractor bid for construction? >> The budget for construction was $18.5M, and the two lowest bids are about >> $20.8 M. >> >> What is the shortfall in funding? >> The shortfall is $2.3 million. Is this project over budget because of the >> tariffs? Yes. Our last cost estimate (in March) indicated that material >> price increases due to current tariffs could be 5–8%. ($995K–$1.59M). For >> March and April, material costs were up a compounded 1.2% according to >> ConstructionDive, a reputable construction website. As of now, the largest >> increases are on tariffed goods— steel and aluminum up 5–6% over the past >> two months, but also on imported lumber. We also heard concerns about >> supply chain issues and a desire to extend the construction schedule by 2–4 >> months, at a cost of $400K–$800K. We immediately identified $600K in >> project deducts to address that last-minute impact, although these items >> would need to find additional funding in some way. >> >> Is $2.3 million what the CCBC is asking for as additional funding at the >> Special Town meeting? Yes. The $2.3 M would allow the Town to sign the GC >> contract and carry a responsible level of project contingency (8.3%) into >> this unstable economic market. >> >> Can the contingency budget be reduced? >> It could, but we'd increase the risk of not being able to absorb further >> market instability and additional change orders due to cost escalations, >> which might stop mid-construction. It's about risk tolerance and >> maintaining reasonable contingency for the economic climate. >> >> Did the bid documents indicate any items that could be withdrawn from the >> contract to lower the contract amount? If so, by how much might they reduce >> the contract amount? >> Yes, three items (sunshades, kitchen appliances and outdoor playground >> equipment) totaling $413K were listed. An additional $200K is budgeted for >> the purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment, which can also be used >> to manage contract overages. But if we pull these line items out, we will >> need to find alternative funding for most of them. >> >> What has the CCBC done to contain costs since the project was approved at >> the March 2024 Town Meeting? Throughout the four design phases and >> subsequent cost estimates since March 2024, the CCBC has modified the >> design and reduced costs (value engineered) to ensure that we remained >> within budget (see list below). >> >> What resources does the Finance Committee recommend that the town use to >> pay for the additional funds? >> They recommend Stabilization funds, which are intended for unforeseen >> budget deficits such as this. While this would be a large request, the fund >> balance would remain at a very healthy level even after these funds are >> used. >> >> What will be the impact on my taxes? >> By using Stabilization funds, there is no immediate impact on the tax >> bill. However, using these funds now means they will not be available for >> future expenses. >> >> What is the threshold for funding approval at the Special Town Meeting on >> June 25, 2025? >> Stabilization funds require a 2/3 vote of approval at Town Meeting. >> >> What is the construction schedule? >> We plan to begin mid-July 2025 and complete construction late Fall 2026. >> >> Will the construction schedule be affected? >> If funding is approved in the June 25, 2025, Special Town Meeting, there >> should be no impact to the construction schedule. >> >> What happens if the additional funding is not approved at the Special >> Town Meeting? >> The CCBC, keeping to the $24.019 M budget approved at Town Meeting in >> March 2024, would need to restart the entire process and redesign the >> building. We would lose the $2.0M already spent and would spend another >> $1.5–$2.0M in redesigns and $1.5–$2.0M in escalation costs. This would add >> approximately >> $5.0M+ of unanticipated expenses to the original project budget, making >> it impossible to meet the full program approved by the town. And there is >> no "no-cost" option going forward, as the Bemis Hall and the Pods >> renovations have already been calculated at app. $20M (in FY28 dollars). >> Additionally, we >> would also need to address unbudgeted operating and maintenance costs for >> the Pods in FY26. >> >> Cost reductions already incorporated into the Community Center Building >> ($4.1 M) >> • Reduced scope of pavement and grading >> • Reduced the number of parking lot light fixtures >> • Reduced the overall square footage of the building and lowered the >> building height >> • Simplified the layout, ceilings, and millwork >> • Simplified the large partitions >> • Converted the roof from metal to standard shingles >> • Converted exterior from slate to terra cotta >> • Reduced and simplified the patio doors >> • Converted windows from aluminum to fiberglass >> • Reduced and revised materials for exterior canopies >> • Simplified the mechanical >> • Simplified the electrical and removed the automatic backup generator >> • Reduced exterior finishes >> >> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >> Browse the archives at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> >> -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > >
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