The Board of Finance at its November 10 meeting approved the municipal and Board of Education Capital Improvement Plans.

They made two changes to the town side of the plan, and approved the school side as is. The school side was specifically approved for the first year; future years may be changed because the schools will soon be unveiling their strategic plan which may reveal new priorities.

Cut from the town’s plan are a $412,500 remodel of the Tax Collector’s officer in 2026-27, year 1 of the plan, and a $312,500 remodel of Social Services. Both came from a survey of town employees asking for building needs, but finance board members felt that approving those without prior review was “the tail wagging the dog.”

Board of Finance Vice-Chairman Jim Gaston said he was uncomfortable approving either without knowing what the various options were, what issues are being addressed, or what the associated costs of other options could be. He questioned the need for bulletproof plexiglass in the Tax Collector’s office, noting that he didn’t believe that office would have more money on hand than Newtown Savings Bank, which does not have such security measures.

“I’m not saying the concerns are not legitimate, but we should not be paying $412,000 without knowing what the specifics might be,” said Gaston.

Board of Finance member Barney Molloy agreed, saying the building survey was “a good start, but it’s just a start, not the basis for making decisions.”

It was discussed whether to push the items back in the plan or simply remove them, but both Gaston and Molloy felt the better plan was to remove them, and then re-add them at a future point after they have been thoroughly reviewed.

“We’d be throwing a bunch of money at them to do whatever they want, and that’s not the role of the Board of Finance,” said Gaston.

The plan will now move on to the Legislative Council for its final review.

Town CIP

The town side of the plan currently stands as:

In 2026-27, Year 1 of the plan, it calls for $10,796,500 in capital spending, with $3,295,500 bonded, $2,425,000 from the general fund, $1,980,000 in capital financing, $739,000 from the capital & non-recurring fund, $992,000 in special revenue funds, and $1,365,000 from grants and gifts.

The town is expected to bond $200,000 for open space preservation, $720,000 for library parking lot and sidewalks, $500,000 for parking lot abatement/improvements, $275,000 for Treadwell artificial turf and lighting, $1 million for bridge replacement, and $600,000 for salt storage improvements.

Roadwork will be paid for through the general fund ($2.425 million) and state grants ($775,000), for a total of $3.2 million.

Capital financing will be used for replacement of fire apparatus, $1,260,000; dump trucks, $310,000; and sweeper replacement, $410,000.

Capital and non-recurring fund will be used for matching of town grants, $60,000; multipurpose room upgrades, $239,000; automated dividing walls, $235,000; and Dickinson Playground artificial turf, $275,000.

Grants and gifts will be used for building remediation and demolition at Fairfield Hills, $30,000; library parking lot and sidewalks, $60,000; and restoring the Pootatuck waterway, $500,000.

Special revenue funds will be used for automated dividing walls, $130,000; Dickinson Playground artificial turf, $12,000; and parking lot abatement and improvements, $850,000.

In 2027-28, Year 2 of the plan, it calls for $15,262,500 in capital spending, with $8,152,600 bonded, $2,475,000 from the general fund, $2,040,000 in capital financing, $110,000 from the capital & non-recurring fund, $350,000 in special revenue funds, and $2,135,000 from grants and gifts.

The town is expected to bond $1,750,000 for electrical upgrades at Edmond Town Hall, $270,000 for Emergency Management Center building upgrades, $2.5 million for building remediation and demolition at Fairfield Hills, $200,000 for open space preservation, $475,000 for library exterior upgrades, $385,000 for Fairfield Hills trail improvements, $140,000 for the rail trail, $500,000 for Treadwell Playground replacement, $425,000 for police regional training facility, $1 million for bridge replacement, $200,000 for a public works generator, and $307,000 for Animal Control renovation.

Roadwork will be paid for through the general fund ($2.475 million) and state grants ($775,000), for a total of $3.25 million.

Capital financing will be used for replacement of fire apparatus, $1,350,000; and dump trucks, $690,000.

Capital and non-recurring fund will be used for matching of town grants, $60,000; and an exterior shade structure at Newtown Community Center.

Grants and gifts will be used for Fairfield Hills Trails improvements, $100,000; and the Rail Trail, $1,260,000.

Special revenue funds will be used for the Community Center exterior shade structure, $220,000; and Community Center multipurpose room upgrades, $130,000.

In 2028-29, Year 3 of the plan, it calls for $13,210,100 in capital spending, with $6,490,000 bonded, $2,525,000 from the general fund, $710,000 in capital financing, $360,000 from the capital & non-recurring fund, $150,000 in special revenue funds, and $2,975,000 from grants and gifts.

The town is expected to bond $370,000 for new generators and transfer switches for the fire department, $500,000 for the sidewalk program, $200,000 for open space preservation, $425,000 for library interior upgrades, $2,700,000 for the Community Center pool renovation, $325,000 for Community Center locker room upgrades, $250,000 for pickleball courts, $1 million for bridge replacement, and $720,000 for DPW building improvements.

Roadwork will be paid for through the general fund ($2.525 million) and state grants ($775,000), for a total of $3.3 million.

Capital financing will be used for dump trucks, $710,000.

Capital and non-recurring fund will be used for matching of town grants, $60,000; Community Center pool area renovations, $150,000; and pickleball courts, $100,000.

Grants and gifts will be used for the sidewalk program, $200,000; the Rail Trail, $1,500,000; and pickleball courts, $500,000.

Special revenue funds will be used for the Community Center pool renovation, $150,000.

In 2029-30, Year 4 of the plan, it will be what the town calls a “bonding vacation,” which is when the town, once every five years, goes a year without any new bonding. This year calls for $5,750,000 in capital spending, with $2,575,000 from the general fund, $590,000 in capital financing, $310,000 from the capital & non-recurring fund, and $2,275,000 from grants and gifts.

Roadwork will be paid for through the general fund ($2.575 million) and state grants ($775,000), for a total of $3.35 million.

Capital financing will be used for a backhoe, $590,000.

Capital and non-recurring fund will be used for matching of town grants, $60,000; and to mitigate and upgrade plumbing at Edmond Town Hall, $250,000.

Grants and gifts will be used for the Rail Trail, $1,500,000.

In 2030-31, Year 5 of the plan, it calls for $19,005,000 in capital spending, with $10,100,000 bonded, $2,625,000 from the general fund, $1,645,000 in capital financing, $60,000 from the capital & non-recurring fund, $1,600,000 in special revenue funds, and $2,975,000 from grants and gifts.

The town is expected to bond $1,750,000 to mitigate and upgrade plumbing at Edmond Town Hall, $3 million for building remediation and demolition at Fairfield Hills, $650,000 for Dodgingtown Fire House renovations, $200,000 for open space preservation, $500,000 for a Community Center expansion, $800,000 for Dickinson Park water playground, $1 million for the bridge replacement program, and $2.2 million for HVAC at the Municipal Center.

Roadwork will be paid for through the general fund ($2.625 million) and state grants ($775,000), for a total of $3.4 million.

Capital financing will be used for police body cameras, $325,000; police in-car recording systems, $325,000; police Taser CEW, $275,000; and a public works vactor truck, $720,000.

Capital and non-recurring fund will be used for matching of town grants, $60,000.

Grants and gifts will be used for the Community Center expansion, $2 million; and Dickinson Park water playground, $200,000.

Special revenue funds will be used for the Community Center expansion, $1 million; and Tilson artificial turf replacement, $600,000.

School CIP

The school side of the plan currently stands as:

Year 1 of the plan, 2026-27, is a total of $4,942,210, and includes a Head O’ Meadow oil tank removal for $225,000; paving at Head O’ Meadow for $280,000; HVAC at F, C, & D wings at the high school for $2,317,210; restoring the pool at the high school for $640,000; an oil tank removal at the high school for $240,000; an air handler at the high school for $500,000; bathroom renovations at Middle Gate for $220,000; fire/intrusion alarm replacements at the high school for $250,000; and millwork replacement at Middle Gate for $280,000.

Year 2 of the plan, 2027-28, is a total of $4,360,000, and includes a new roof on the 1997 wing at Hawley for $700,000; a window replacement in B wing at the high school for $450,000; exterior doors at the high school for $210,000; and a roofing replacement at Reed for $3,000,000.

Year 3 of the plan, 2028-29, is a total of $2,450,000, with an ADA accessibility study for $200,000; a district security camera software upgrade for $375,000; district wide access control upgrades for $224,000; district wide window film for $750,000; parking lot repaving at Hawley for $275,000; and driveway repaving at Middle Gate for $250,000.

Year 4 of the plan, 2029-30, is the bonding vacation, as noted for the town side.

Year 5 of the plan, 2030-31, is a total of $6,717,700, with interior renovations at the high school for $3,140,000; replacing generator and switch at the middle school for $250,000; an electric system upgrade at the middle school for $1,775,700; and interior restoration at the middle school for $1,552,000.

Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.