Sparta residents should vote no

To the editor: With only a week or less to go before we vote on a $71,000,000 referendum, I would like to share the following observations which have led me to no other viable choice than to vote no, and urge my fellow Sparta citizens and voters to do the same. Although it is quite obvious that the high school has serious needs in many areas, the cost is millions of dollars too high. Yes, I took the tour, and yes I found certain areas of the dwelling that needed updating, renovation and expansion; on this point we can mostly agree. But, the price tag is outrageous. Along with the price the following is a compilation of reasons that have persuaded me to vote NO!!! I suggest that all voters visit www.njedaschools.com/projects, here you will find a comprehensive list of schools projects that have been and are currently under construction here in the Garden State, you will be hard-pressed to find any project, including brand new high schools, that approach the price of the project in which we will be voting on. The BOE's inability to accurately forecast increased budget amounts - Ms. Monks response to this question when I took my tour, was that the BOE does not anticipate hiring additional staff when the project is complete - is irresponsible and shortsighted. Although, new staff of course, will be needed if enrollment increases, it is misguided to believe that new classrooms can be added and used without increasing the faculty. The actual cost of the bond issue once interest is factored exceeds $116,000,000. This assumes a rate of 4.65%, state aid of 13.56%, and $71,500,000 borrowed. All numbers furnished to me by the BOE. Although being touted as a $71,000,000 referendum the actual debt liability to the taxpayers of Sparta will exceed $116,000,000. To the BOE's credit, the bond issue is actually a series of annually maturing bonds for thirty years, which saves millions of interest dollars in comparison to a single bond issue maturing in thirty years. The second question being contingent upon the first is reprehensible, shameful and a harebrained attempt to garner votes. An act that all BOE members should be embarrassed of. I have personally been involved in hundreds of millions of dollars in public school projects over the last several years, and I cannot rationalize this cost. I attempted to join the Volunteer Professional Committee, after three e-mails to the previous BOE president, before receiving a response, I was then directed to the BOE liaison to the committee, who in turn gave me two names and telephone numbers of people on the committee to contact, who in spite of my numerous messages and interest, ignored my request to be involved and never contacted me. Leading me to conclude that only those hand-picked for the committee were actually able to serve on the committee, after which I withdrew myself from the process. Also, leading me to discount any of the committee's findings and opinions. I have had respectful disagreements with supporters of the plan who when asked, stated they would still vote yes if the cost was $20,000,000 more, although there are well intentions, this calls into question the fiscal responsibility of this plan as well as many of its supporters. Having three children, all of which I intend to remain in the Sparta Public School System, I understand, share, and concede the point that we need an updated high school facility. But, my knowledge of other larger yet less expensive school projects, the inability of the BOE to accurately forecast upcoming budgetary impacts, and its apparent that many of the plan's supporters would support this plan at any cost, leaves me with the opinion that the only fiscally responsible vote at this time is, unfortunately NO. Thomas D. Rech Sparta