Can we afford it?
Voters to consider $36.8 million in capital spending Tuesday
BY PETER A. SUTTERS JR. INDEPENDENT WRITER
Nantucket voters will decide at the polls next Tuesday on three override questions, which total $36.8 million in capital spending.

While the $27.5 million Public Safety Facility, $3.6 million Sports Complex and $5.7 million in capital projects for the town and school department were approved at this April's Annual Town Meeting, it is not a "sure thing" the projects will be approved at the polls.

Since April, the rising price of oil, increased sewer user fees and a general downturn in the economy have a sobering effect on some voters, who may not cast the same vote in the booth as they did on Town Meeting floor.

"I think people are reevaluating it," said former selectman Matt Fee. "People are a little jittery about their finances. People are opening their bills - their tax bill, water and sewer bills - and they are cringing. Sewer fees went up nearly 40 percent last year and are going to go up again this year. I think people are really getting squeezed."

Fee is not against the public safety complex in general, but said he is against the "override economy" on Nantucket.

"I'm very concerned about the override mentality," said Fee. "If we could afford it, it would be a nice thing to do. We just need to get a handle on how we are going to pay for it."

"I absolutely understand people's concerns," said Board of Selectmen chairman Michael Kopko. "But I think we have a tradition on Nantucket of putting things off and paying more for them in the future. I think all the elements have come together on this. We have voted a number of times in the past to move this (public safety facility) project along."

Kopko was referring to the 2004 ATM vote to purchase the property at 2 Fairgrounds Road from National Grid for $15.5 million; the 2005 ATM vote to approve $1.8 million for the project design phase and feasibility study and the 2006 ATM vote to allow the police station to move from the center of town to 2 Fairgrounds Road.

The steep price tag of the complex, which would house the Police, Fire and Sheriff departments, would have part of the cost offset by a variety of revenue sources.

Fee said there is "no such thing as a free lunch."

Nantucket County Sheriff Richard Bretschneider pledged $4 million for the project and the town expected to sell the existing Fire Department property to Stop & Shop for around $6 million.

In order to finance the public safety complex, the town must borrow the money and the Board of Selectmen is hoping voters approve the funding request, which will allow the town to secure a 20-year bond.

In addition to those sources, Kopko said the town could seak future deeds excise revenue from the Sheriff, but it is not set in stone.

"I have never said, 'Don't worry, the sheriff will pay for the whole thing,'" said Kopko. "But could we continued to try and get deeds excise funds to help pay for it? Yes."

The $3.6 million Sports Complex at 81 Milestone Road is on Land Bank Property. Town voters, despite a negative recommendation by the Finance Committee, easily passed the spending request at Town Meeting.

The project calls for four fields to be built on part of 18 acres off Milestone Road. Two of the fields will be natural turf and two may be artificial.

An amendment was added to the article at Town Meeting to form a committee to study artificial fields after concerns were raised about the safety of materials used in the projects.

A range of town and school department projects are incorporated in the $5.7 million capital spending ballot question. Some of the projects include the replacement of a fire engine; replacement of the finger pier at the Brant Point Lighthouse; repairs to the Town and 2 Fairgrounds Road buildings; improvements to the teen center; improvements to the public restrooms in 'Sconset and to the public restrooms at the Visitor Services Bureau; a new trash truck; roadway improvement at the intersection of Orange and Union streets; replacement of equipment, furniture and fixtures at all of the Nantucket Public Schools; replacement of the 20,000 gallon fuel storage tank for the Nantucket Public Schools; building improvements at all Nantucket Public Schools, new playing fields and facilities; a school

space needs study and a bike path on Cliff Road. I