Thursday, May 18, 2000 Older Editions

Andover Special Election: Town votes Tuesday on safety center payment; building two new schools, sidewalks

By Neil Fater

Andover voters will decide the fate of three projects collectively worth more than $45 million next Tuesday, May 23, when they flock to the polls for a rare special election.

The May 23 secret ballot will affect both town services and residents' wallets for at least the next 20 years.

By casting their votes, residents will determine whether Andover will raises taxes above the Proposition 2 1/2 levy limit specifically to pay for:

o a new elementary and a new middle school;

o the sidewalks to those schools; and/or

o a new safety center.

The safety center will be built regardless of the vote. But if the school vote fails, the two new schools cannot be built. The sidewalks also require a "yes" vote to be constructed.

Residents from all eight Andover precincts will vote at the Andover High School field house on Shawsheen Road. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a shuttle bus running from the senior center to the field house.

Because a state law dictates the precise wording of the ballot questions, none of the three questions will mention the specific amount that Andover must spend to build the projects.

Here's a brief look at each of the questions voters will find on the May 23 ballot:

Question 1

The first ballot question essentially asks voters how they want to pay for the already approved safety center.A "yes" vote means Andover will pay for the project by raising property taxes above the limits set by Proposition 2 1/2.

A "no" vote will require the town to pay for the safety center project out of the operating budget.

Because of this, officials say a "no" vote could lead to cuts in town services. The safety center construction will cost $10.9 million and is expected to be paid over 20 years.

Question 2

The second ballot question asks if Andover will pass a debt exclusion to build two new schools in West Andover.

School officials say a "yes" vote is needed to deal with an overcrowding problem that will leave both Andover elementary and middle schools hundreds of students over their recommended capacity by 2002.

Although Town Meeting overwhelmingly approved the new schools, another "yes" vote is needed to build them.

A "no" vote means the schools will not be built.

The schools project will cost about $34.4 million, including the cost of both construction and designs.

Officials say the state will reimburse Andover for 60 percent of these costs.

Question 3

The final ballot question asks if residents will pass a one-time debt exclusion to pay to build sidewalks to the new school.

A "no" vote means the sidewalks will not be built.

The sidewalks will cost $600,000 to construct.