A few thoughts:
A General Fund Operating Budget of $46.6 Million. We spend $21.0 Million on the School Department, $3.0 Million for the Police Department, $2.9 Million for the Fire Department, $1.1 Million for the Library and $183,190 on Council of Aging services.
In terms of the operating budget after a Senior Center is built, there will be a slight increase but it is more likely in the several thousands range rather than the tens of thousands range. Of the $183,190 we spend on Council of Aging services, $14,000 is for rent of Salvation Army space. So assume the $14,000 goes into building operating costs and then add some additional funds for heating, cooling, and upkeep: we're still talking a pretty small operating cost annually. That marginal increase in cost will be offset by programming efficiencies from running services in one site versus rented and borrowed spaces.
The Senior Center construction is a one time cost.
The original $5 Million figure was based on a very simple feasibility study, which basically tested whether a Senior Center would fit on the site.
The current $6.8 Million ESTIMATE from the architect factors in what construction costs might be in three years (post recession) as well as plans to create a basement (with elevator) where in the future more space can be had without expanding the footprint. The Senior Center Building Committee wants to build the Center in a way which enhances the park and playground uses at Cushing Park, and not expand the footprint in 20 years when we will have more seniors living in Newburyport. I think Tom Salemi will then be in his mid-forties.
In terms of the capital outlay, the City has never been 'on the hook' for a certain amount of the capital cost of a Senior Center.
The path to funding this project has always included Federal, State, City (meaning you all and me voting for some amount of debt exclusion), and private donors---the funding mix percentages have always been uncertain. See my post from over a year ago: http://edcameron.blogspot.com/2008/06/cushing-park-and-senior-center-why-i.html
The more successful the private fundraising and grant writing, the smaller will be the local burden. Now that the design phase is completed, the private fundraising needs to begin. That will take some time, then we'll see what is needed from the City side. Mayor Moak has consistently said that the City (ie we taxpayers) would have to kick in if this is to happen. Newburyport voters have approved what they have seen as necessary capital projects in the past: Library, High School, Police Station.
My own guess is that a debt exclusion of $1 to 2 Million might be acceptable to voters; more than that would be a difficult sell. As with any debt exclusion or override, the voters have the final say in how their tax dollars are spent.
Whether NBPT voters will approve this down the road, whether the Friends of the Council on Aging are able to find donors, whether the Commonwealth's Dept of Housing and Community Development would approve a substantial grant from CDBG, whether our elected Federal officials can direct funding to this project-----all remains to be seen.
What is clear to me is a Senior Center is a vehicle for basic services and programming which we ought to be able to provide.
In terms of the operating budget after a Senior Center is built, there will be a slight increase but it is more likely in the several thousands range rather than the tens of thousands range. Of the $183,190 we spend on Council of Aging services, $14,000 is for rent of Salvation Army space. So assume the $14,000 goes into building operating costs and then add some additional funds for heating, cooling, and upkeep: we're still talking a pretty small operating cost annually. That marginal increase in cost will be offset by programming efficiencies from running services in one site versus rented and borrowed spaces.
The Senior Center construction is a one time cost.
The original $5 Million figure was based on a very simple feasibility study, which basically tested whether a Senior Center would fit on the site.
The current $6.8 Million ESTIMATE from the architect factors in what construction costs might be in three years (post recession) as well as plans to create a basement (with elevator) where in the future more space can be had without expanding the footprint. The Senior Center Building Committee wants to build the Center in a way which enhances the park and playground uses at Cushing Park, and not expand the footprint in 20 years when we will have more seniors living in Newburyport. I think Tom Salemi will then be in his mid-forties.
In terms of the capital outlay, the City has never been 'on the hook' for a certain amount of the capital cost of a Senior Center.
The path to funding this project has always included Federal, State, City (meaning you all and me voting for some amount of debt exclusion), and private donors---the funding mix percentages have always been uncertain. See my post from over a year ago: http://edcameron.blogspot.com/2008/06/cushing-park-and-senior-center-why-i.html
The more successful the private fundraising and grant writing, the smaller will be the local burden. Now that the design phase is completed, the private fundraising needs to begin. That will take some time, then we'll see what is needed from the City side. Mayor Moak has consistently said that the City (ie we taxpayers) would have to kick in if this is to happen. Newburyport voters have approved what they have seen as necessary capital projects in the past: Library, High School, Police Station.
My own guess is that a debt exclusion of $1 to 2 Million might be acceptable to voters; more than that would be a difficult sell. As with any debt exclusion or override, the voters have the final say in how their tax dollars are spent.
Whether NBPT voters will approve this down the road, whether the Friends of the Council on Aging are able to find donors, whether the Commonwealth's Dept of Housing and Community Development would approve a substantial grant from CDBG, whether our elected Federal officials can direct funding to this project-----all remains to be seen.
What is clear to me is a Senior Center is a vehicle for basic services and programming which we ought to be able to provide.
7 comments:
two things,
1. is there any proof to the statement that, "...and not expand the footprint in 20 years when we will have more seniors living in Newburyport."? I would imagine that there are fewer seniors in newburyport now than there were 20 years ago, and i would expect that number to remain relatively equal if not shrink in the next decade or so.
2. if this plan does go through, can we not cut down any of the trees at the park, as the current plan demonstrates? It seems a natural buffer between the neighborhood and the new building and cutting down mature trees just to plant new saplings that will take decades to reach the same size as the ones we have now seems foolish.
1)
US Census says % of NBPT population over 60 years of age has been:
1980 19%
1990 18%
2000 18%
will be:
2010 25%
2020 34%
Our population will stay pretty flat (not much room to grow) so we'll have more seniors. Count me in the 34% in 2022.
2)
I've harped about the current trees and will continue to do so. The consensus design, very much influenced by neighbors, has the building along and close to Kent Street. That spells trouble for at least a couple of trees. Plantings will be trees in the 10-15' range.
"My own guess is that a debt exclusion of $1 to 2 Million might be acceptable to voters; more than that would be a difficult sell."
Hell of a guess, councilor. Do you really think there is an appetite for a override/debt exclusion for any amount right now? All taxpayers as well as seniors are having trouble making ends meet, and you want to push another debt exclusion? I'm afraid it would be decinated at the polls especially given the fact that the cost has risen so much.
i don't buy it. seniors have largely been forced out of newburyport in the last 20 years, and those that didn't leave either moved into retirement homes or senior housing, very few still own their homes in town. the number of senior housing unit available isn't increasing, so if anything the number of seniors will stay flat or decrease, not rise. Further, from growing up here, i've seen the vast majority of families leave town after their kids graduate from the high school, and seldom does a 60+ year old move in. generally its a new family with young children. to state that the senior population will grow, with no additional senior housing and rising taxes, is highly dubious.
X? X?? Is that you X? Have we drawn you out?
i've seen the vast majority of families leave town after their kids graduate from the high school, and seldom does a 60+ year old move in.
Sorry, I find this statement highly dubious. First off, are you positioned to actually see the vast majority of families after their kids graduate college?
Orrr, have the vast majority of familes of kids you went to school with moved away after they went to college?
Big diff.
Bottomline, the boomers are old and getting older so they'll account for a larger share of the population EVERYWHERE including Newburyport.
Also, I keep hearing that people like myself--devishly handsome couples with remarkable yet grounded children--account for only 15-20% of the population in this town.
So who is in the other 80% I can't imagine they're all young/singles and/or childfree couples?
We've got to have some seniors in that mix.
And I should say I'm only half of the devishly handsome couple....
34%? are you kidding? one out of every 3 people in newburyport are going to be 60+? those numbers are totally false.
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