Hot topic: Long-discussed expansion and renovation of Bow Elementary School will be on the warrant at school meeting. Article 3 takes $150,000 from capital reserve funds for architectural and design work, and Article 4 puts $1 million into capital reserve for future work, raising the total available to $2.7 million. If they pass, voters would consider the whole project in 2021, probably adding six classrooms and making major renovations to the 40-year-old building.
Budget: The proposed operating budget for the Bow School District is $30.35 million, about 5.3% higher than last year’s $28.8 million, with the bulk of the increases coming in regular and special programming. If the budget and all warrant articles pass, the local school tax rate would increase 20 cents, or 1.5%, adding $60 to the annual bill of a house assessed at $300,000. The state school tax rate would add another 4 cents.
The proposed operating budget for the town is $11.63 million, a drop from last year’s $11.78 million last year, driven partly because last year Bow spent for town-wide assessment. After revenues are considered, the estimated tax impact is a decline of 15 cents, to $6.96 per $1,000 of assessed value. That would reduce the annual tax bill on a $300,000 home by $45.
Other items on the town warrant include spending $711,000 from capital reserve plus $1.93 million in state and federal grants to rebuild the Dunklee Road Bridge at the intersection with Route 3A; $2,771 to replace streetlights with efficient LEDs (another $45,176 would come from utility incentives and rebates); and turning Farrington Corner Road from a Class 6 road into a town-owned trail; and a number of purchases, including about half a million dollars for a new ambulance, half of which would come Fire Truck Capital Reserve Fund.
Contested races: On the town ballot, for the select board, incumbent Harry Judd faces a challenge from Bruce Marshall for a three-year seat, while three people are running for supervisor of the checklist: Kathryn Ess, Marilee Nihan and Dik Dagavarian.
On the school district ballot, three people are running for a pair of three-year school board seats: incumbent Bryce Larrabee, Johnathon Banks and Martin Osterloh. School board member June Branscom is not running for re-election.
When and where: Ballot voting will take place Tuesday from 7 a.m to 7 p.m. at Bow Community Center, 3 Bow Center Road.
The town meeting will be Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Bow High School.
The school district annual meeting will be Friday 7 p.m. at Bow High School.
David Brooks