Resident asks community to vote ‘yes’ on question No. 1

To the editor:
    Over the past 10 years, SAD 29 has been engaged in a significant renovation project at Houlton High School. In order to fund these improvements, in 1997, residents voted to increase the mill rate by one point, amounting to approximately $350,000 annually that has been used to complete a small portion of the renovations each year in piecemeal fashion. However, the District has now expended approximately $3.8 million dollars for these renovations, and only 60 percent of the needed improvements have been completed.
    On Tuesday, Nov. 6, District residents will be asked to vote on whether to issue a $5 million bond to fund the completion of these repairs and to establish a new performing arts center. The $5 million bond will be used for two purposes: $2.5 million will be used to complete the High School renovations, and the remaining $2.5 million will be used to assist in funding the Houlton Community Arts Center — a $5 million project in total. The additional $2.5 million for the Center will be raised through private donations.
    Because the principal and interest payments will be paid by the funds that are already present in the current budget structure, we have an opportunity to complete all of the necessary renovations to the High School and establish a new Community Arts Center without raising our taxes.
    Please join me in giving your support to this proposed $5 million dollar bond project by voting ‘Yes’ on question no. 1.
Donald D. Dunn
Houlton