Library Project Gets Major Endorsement

Today, in a message to supporters, State Representative Matt Beaton (R) enthusiastically endorsed a YES vote for next Tuesday's debt exclusion vote.  
With experience in both the construction and political realms, he knows the reality of the situation, and issued this message:

Dear Friends, 

As most of you are aware, the citizens of Shrewsbury will be asked to vote on a debt exclusion for the construction of a new library building on Tuesday November 5th. I write this letter to ask you to join me, my family and our town leaders in voting YES for the library project.

Our library is in desperate need of repair due to its aging infrastructure and lack of handicap accessibility. A remodel of the current space will cost the taxpayers of Shrewsbury $12.8 million.  This number is to simply fix what is broken and bring the library up to modern day building code standards. The construction of a new building will cost the Shrewsbury taxpayer $13.6 million, only $800,000 more than a patchwork remodel. The reason for this is that Shrewsbury is eligible only this year for a nearly $8 million grant from the state along with significant private donations that are only applicable to a new building.  Therefore, the overall tax burden to the town is very similar with either a remodel or construction of an entirely new building that maintains historical aspects of the current library.  

This project will be funded through a debt exclusion (not an operational override) which is a 20 year bond similar to what we have used to construct schools and public buildings.  The cost of this bond decreases every year. This is not a permanent override as some have led us to believe. Given these facts, the added bond debt for the library will only increase the average tax bill in the years 2018 and 2019, by $43 and $15, respectively. Every other year we will be paying less in bond debt than we do today. This is due to the pay-down of previously issued bonds currently on the books. Therefore, our overall tax burden from outstanding bond debt will remain virtually unchanged by the library project.  

I am sure I will be criticized by some for voicing my opinion on this matter, but there are times when I will deal with the political consequence to support what I feel is good for our community. I therefore, write this letter not as your state representative, but rather as a life-long, concerned Shrewbury resident. My reason for wanting to be your state representative is to help better our community so my children can have the same great experiences living here that I did. I have a great fondness for our library and benefited greatly from my experiences there throughout my life.  I spent many days after school at the library because it was a safe work environment for both children and adults to meet and be productive.  Unfortunately, today that is not the case and we need to make significant investment in the library to assure the safety of the 1,000 residents a day who use the library. The question we need to ask is: Do we want a completely new building or a patchwork fix of the existing structure which will result in a similar debt level and inferior end product?

If we do not pass this debt exclusion, the problem with our library does not go away.  If we do not take this opportunity to utilize the state grant and private funding for a new building, we will still need to invest at least $12.8 million to fix the existing building to bring it up to current building code and handicap accessibility standards. To me, the smartest and most fiscally responsible answer is to vote yes forthe library on November 5th!

I ask that you please join me and VOTE YES on Tuesday, November 5th and help spread the word to all your family and friends in Shrewsbury. We need your help in spreading the word. If you will be unable to vote on November 5th, I ask that you please stop by the town hall and vote absentee in support of the Library Project!

Thank you very much. 

Sincerely, 

Matt