On Thursday, the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) unanimously approved a $103 million request, for the new Long Lots Elementary School project.
Toni Simonetti says the actual cost is $129 million.
She thinks it should cost $90 million. Now she’s gathering signatures on a petition for a referendum, to decrease the appropriation to that sum.
It’s no easy task. She needs 1,860 signatures — 10% of the town’s registered voters — by June 26.
Simonetti — a longtime Westport Community Gardens member, and vocal opponent of replacing the gardens with an athletic field — does not oppose the new school.
In fact, she says, she wants a new building to replace the current “rotting, moldy, unhealthy and shabby” one,
However, she says, $129 million is too much. Her figure is based on the $103 million appropriation; $6.7 million previous allocated, and $20 million in debt service interest.
She says that will result in a 4% tax increase, beginning next year. That would translate, she says, to $1,200 more per year for a $2.1 million home, the Westport average. Personal property and motor vehicle taxes will rise 4% too.
Simonetti posted those figures, and more — including her issues with the RTM process — on Substack.
Artist’s rendering of the proposed Long Lots courtyard.
We need to make sure this is a state of the art school that will serve our community for generations to come. This type of action is irresponsible – not based on any facts, simply obstructing what the town needs to do to support our families best.
Please read my commentary before being so darn judgey. It is based completely on fact, including some facts that are being withheld from you and me.
I would add to that, not every Westport family sends their kids to Long Lots. There are four other elementary schools (Greens Farm, Saugatuck, Kings Highway and Coleytown) that will not benefit from this overreach. Finally, not every household even has school-age kids. Not even close. And some that do send their kids elsewhere for education.
Further, what is happening nationally to immigrants, our privacy rights, the conflicted interests of our elected officials, and even the assassination of elected officials scares the daylights out of me. You have to start local.
Do not disparage the exercise of my democratic rights. I am defending yours.
So, Vijay, who is being selfish now?
Toni Simonetti is so incredibly awesome that I’m totally speechless! I just might write in her name when I vote for President in 2028.
Ridiculous
That one single building project will raise the property taxes of everyone in Town by 4% is absolutely shocking. And that follows a 4.7% increase in the BOE’s operating budget for next year. (Taxpayers are contributing about $28,000 per student, pre-K through 12.)
We all appreciate quality schools that educate Westport children and indirectly benefit everyone, through robust property values, but that can’t mean that we hand a blank check to the BOE. And that seems to be what we are doing here.
There has to be a more equitable way to spread the burdens and benefits.
There’s been considerable discussion, debate and review over the cost of this project—and yes, it’s a major investment, the largest in our town’s history. That’s not lost on me. As a fellow taxpayer, I will share that burden. But this is the cost of maintaining a strong, inclusive, and future-ready public education system—something that benefits our entire community, not just those with children in the schools.
To those who say, “I don’t have kids in the system—why should I pay for this?” I would say: that’s the point of a functioning democracy. We contribute to the collective good. I don’t use Medicare or Medicaid, but I’m proud my taxes help fund those programs for those who do. This is how we take care of each other.
I’ve also heard the criticism about the topline number—accusations that it’s too vague or not transparent enough. I’ve seen the plans. I understand what’s being proposed—geothermal systems, comprehensive drainage infrastructure, updated safety standards. These things are expensive. And with inflation and rising construction costs, delays only make it worse.
For those still suspicious of hidden motives, I would just say: what do we really think is going on here? No one is buying private jets. There are no secret payouts. There’s a saying in medicine: When you hear hoofbeats, think horses—not zebras. The simplest explanation is usually the right one. This is a necessary, complex, and expensive public works project—not a conspiracy.
You are paying for medicare for yourself, as I did. Same with Social Security.
How about Medicaid? CHIP? Veterans benefits? SNAP? Come on Toni – you know exactly what I meant.
And let’s not pretend public funds are only being used on the school. The garden relocation—rightfully—will be funded by tax dollars too. That’s how community works.
And Toni, I have to say—it’s deeply frustrating that you keep invoking the collapse of democracy in a conversation about building a public school. I’m the daughter of immigrants. I hate Trump. What’s happening across this country horrifies me to my core. But let’s not conflate real threats to our democracy with a town debate over school infrastructure.
Why do we need a petition if not a single member of the public had objections to this appropriation?
This blog post is presenting a tax increase that is exaggerated, and meant to misguide registered voters into signing the petition. It also does not discuss the detrimental impact on the project if the petition succeeds in gathering those signatures.
The Long Lots school needs to be replaced no matter what. A petition does not solve anything but only serve the interest of the very few who are putting their interest ahead of the collective interest. The purpose of petitioning for a referendum is a right to the citizens, and certainly not written with the intent to be abused in this way.
Here are the facts:
* The total cost of the project is $110M and includes a 10% contingency.
* The costs are based on real estimates. Inflation and uncertainty has increased the costs significantly in past years.
* The state reimbursement is estimated to be in the range of 13-15% of the total.
* There are other potential reimbursement such as geothermal incentives and federal credits (not included in tax increase estimate).
* There are significant savings in operating costs when the new building is completed (not included in tax increase estimate).
* The town finance directory estimates a gross tax increase of 0.56 to the mill rate based on 13% state reimbursement and without any other reimbursement.
* The actual tax increase will be lower because the town is expected to get out of prior financing costs in coming years.
* Westport tax rate has been stable for a long time, but we need to reinvest in our town facilities to remain viable.
* A house with a market value of $2.1M will see an increase of at most $823 (not $1,200). The actual tax increase will be lower when additional reimbursements and reduction in existing debt repayments are factored in.
* If petition succeeds in getting signatures of 10% of registered voters, then the town will miss on this year’s state application deadline. The cost to the town to finance the cost for one more year to get the state reimbursement will be around $800M. And the cost of the referendum is estimated around $200K (if it needs to be repeated 5 times to get to a certain threshold of voters). This wastes around $1M of taxpayers money.
The Town Finance Director provided the numbers.
I’ve seen and heard a good number of people question the appropriation. I’m not sure I understand the comment.
On the other hand, petitioning to a referendum has always been on the table and everyone knew it.
Delays by the Administration and the LLSBC created the time crunch and now you seem to want to prevent processes allowed in the Town Charter from working, because of those prior delays.
If the referendum passes, it will presumably lead to taxpayer savings that will more than offset the cost that you are concerned about.
Let’s let the democratic process play out.
The numbers were presented by the Town Finance Director directly to the BOF for all to hear (I’ll save you all time, start at minute 20:00 at the 6/11/25 BOF approval meeting). The median household in Westport is 2.1 million dollars (assessed at 70% so 1.5 million); those households would see an increase of $840, which represents a less than 3% increase. This does not take into account any increase in the grand list or any energy rebates the new building will be eligible for. Toni, please stop trying to take advantage of taxpayers who have not been paying as close attention and adjust your numbers to reflect reality.
That’s $840 over the ’25/’26 mill rate of $18.86, as my column points out; it’s $1,200 over the current ’24/’25 mill rate of $18.86. Those darn numbers can be twisted any way that makes you feel better. Over TODAY’s tax rate, its is a 4% increase, or $1,200.
***Current mill rate of $18.62…** for 24/25. That means right now.
Why are you adding the estimated gross mill rate increase of the new school to the mill rate increase of this past year? There is no relation whatsoever to each other. But wait, I’ve already pointed out this error before. So you didn’t due any due diligence to these numbers before making this erroneous claim? It is not 4% increase, nor $1,200 increase for a $2.1M market value house.
I would hope that these numbers are corrected in this blog post, especially when you are advocating for a petition on this important matter. People should have the real facts.
Listen to the town finance directory in last RTM meeting give his account of the tax increase estimates:
– https://play.champds.com/westportct/event/871 starting at 47min 15sec.
He gives the example of a house with $1M assessed value ($1.33M market value) and the gross tax increase is estimated at $560, and that does not account for other factors that will reduce the net tax increase. A house with market value of $2.1M will have an assessed value of $1.47M, and therefore, the estimated gross tax increase is $823 (again not $1,200 as mentioned in this blog post). Mr. Conrad further explains how other factors such as future debt retirement and extra reimbursements will drive the tax increase down.
If you have additional time, you can listen to other public testimonies about why this new school is important. And you will also notice that there was no single public comment against the appropriation. There is a lot of activism in this town and objections to various appropriations and projects. The fact that there was no single public comment in these appropriation meetings speaks volume to the town approval of this important project.
This petition is only meant to hurt the town, and I am certain if there is a referendum, it will approve the appropriation, similar to how the RTM unanimously voted on this project.
This petition is anything but an exercise of one’s rights. It certainly is disguised in one though.
CURRENT MILL RATE = $18.62/$1,000 OF ASSESSED VALUE.
NEXT YEAR MILL RATE = $18.86.
That’s not what the article says:
“She says that will result in a 4% tax increase, beginning next year.”
It does not say the taxes will increase by 4% over the next two years. It is misleading the readers.
Also, for better perspective, I looked at my taxes over the past 6 years, and my average yearly increase was only 0.6%!
And, Westport mill rate is one of the lowest rates to start with.
There is a good reason why we are in good financial shape.
First, the town is financially prudent and doesn’t waste money.
Second, being one of the best school districts in Westport keeps our grand list growing which decreases the cost for everyone else. The grand list grows when older homes with lower appraised values are renovated or replaced with higher values.
The majority of town residents understand the dynamics and why it is important to invest in our schools because everyone wins, even those who have no children or grand-children in the school system. Property values are not going up only because of inflation, but also because there is demand for Westport schools.
Most importantly, and also morally, the town needs to provide a healthy and safe building for the students. We can’t keep a school that keeps failing and we keep fixing at a very high cost. Those costs will only increase. It is time to replace the school.
What you are calling for is to be penny wise but dollar foolish.
We all know what your real motivations are. Your obsession with this school has never been about its cost until just now.
Joe – people have expressed concerns left and right but elected (and unelected) reps weren’t responsive. I think people are probably tired of wasting their breath and prefer to take it to a vote. This didn’t begin with the RTM meeting. Feel free to make your case to the people. Don’t like it? Don’t sign the petition. If it makes the ballot, vote no.
It is rich to read you projecting motivations on the petitioners. Did you really think that there was a safety issue with the Garden where it was? That was about as disingenuous as it got, no?
I can agree to disagree with people, but constantly acting as if you are representing virtue makes me want to barf.
Anything Toni Simonetti writes I believe to be 100% fact.
Joe, you on the other hand just cannot stand to hear the truth.
It’s not about being remotely against the school, it is about the overspend. It is unnecessary.
Bottom line and end of story..
no doubt you also think the Hamlet is a great idea. Lol
News for you, you are in the company of the vast majority of this town.
Let’s see… do you also agree with the parking plan for downtown ? And the 7m dollar shed ?
Please do tell !
That was with reference to the scamlet, that if Joe likes it he is in the vast vast minority of this town.
No, he is in the majority
We should be provided the architects original construction estimate and the bids from the contractors who submitted bids on the project.
It’s also reasonable to go back to the successful bidder and
Have them submitt what they feel might be some good cost savings for certain cost reduction changes thet feel are possible and proper.
My belief is that these type of projects can be desin build.
Two reasons:
1. Architects contract terms usually have their pay structire for a project like this is about 4-6% of total projectcosts.
The more the project costs the more the architect is paid?
2. Town and municipal projects like this school are notofiously over budget, over estimates and many times don’t include performsnce incentives for contractors.
Delaying the construction of this school will only increase the costs, much like the Bridge Street project, where a few years ago the F.S. and a similar “demographic” blocked funding for needed feasibility studies, claiming it was their only leverage, and they were so proud. While it did postpone the inevitable, it also turned a $40m project into a $100m one, all while leaving us vulnerable to significant danger and delay should the span fail.
I would contend that this vindictive behavior warrants serious consideration of whether the town should ever seek a new location for the garden and expose the taxpayers to these liabilities. 110m now … 140m in 16 months? Good luck explaining that at tea time.
We’ve already seen vindictive behavior from Town. (Restricting hours, forbidding use this year.) That ship has sailed. The damage is done as twenty year of work has been destroyed.
One might ask if that pettiness (as well as how the whole project has been handled – the backroom dealings) has contributed to a willingness of people to sign a petition.
If some day, a Garden proposal comes up again before P&Z and you want to speak against it, knock yourself out.
(As an aside, P&Z runs as largely a pays-for-itself department, so expenses don’t hit the taxpayers.)
I do think, while the sports daddies tried to set the Long Lots parents against the gardeners, a lot of focus was on the Community Gardens and not on the cost of the project.
Now is the opportunity for everyone in every neighborhood in Westport to consider whether a 4% tax increase to benefit a comparatively small number of students (as opposed to the Staples rebuild which every student would use) is a good idea. Most homeowners are going to pay more than $1,000 more in taxes. I get that it doesn’t phase those who directly benefit.
But if Lee Goldstein and Lee Caney had to walk door-to-door explaining the project and asking for $1,000 checks, I don’t think most people would respond too well. And I don’t think people who aren’t paying attention will respond well when they get their next tax bills.
She’s got at least 2 signatures, we know that. Are there another 1,600+ out there who don’t give sh*t about the town, its children, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, its future?
You don’t like the increase Chris? Move…I’d say take your bat and ball too, but we all know you don’t like outdoor time.
Good to see another person who believes in handing out blank checks.
If this holds up, I’ll pay the big increase.
But to the say that the people who you disagree with “don’t give a sh!t” about the Town, etc. is a disgraceful attitude and completely selfish.
Another breeder who doesn’t think that people without children should have a say in how their tax dollars are spent.
Nice values, there.
It’s time to move forward. No more delays. We need to get this done.
No more delays no matter how much it costs?
Should all Town expenditures be looked at so uncritically?
What have the gardens new location when and if it ever happens got to do with this article ? Did I miss something?
As for the cost of the school. I have more construction experience than the entire LLSBC committee put together.
100$ million is an out of control rip off for a school of this size. Over the top and out of control.
Costs were duly hidden by the RTM moderator who pulled a fast one ON The public..
FACT !
And the legality of that stunt ? HIGHLY questionable
So please Robbie. The school of course should have been renovated in the past 12 years which might have saved a rebuild.
Who is directly to blame for that ?
Marpe and Tooker !!!!! Yup just cost us a small fortune.
You keep saying you have all this construction experience. Can you share this experience? Making unfounded claims about what costs should be and then capitalizing a few words doesn’t make you an expert. FACT!!
SkUlLdUgGeRrY!
Looking back with perfect foresight, we should have moved forward on a number of capital projects ~5-10 years ago when debt was cheaper (zero interest rates!) and costs were lower. Additionally, every time we do a project, we should always look to do a great job at the lowest possible cost. All that being said, sitting here in June 2025 it seems like delaying the plan to just pencil in a lower number (I can’t see why $90 is the right number either) doesn’t make anything better and waiting doesn’t seem to make costs lower or life easier.
I think it would be a great exercise in civic responsibility to host tours of each of the 8 public schools this Summer when classes are not in session.
Westport has been putting band aids on bullet wounds for years, and if you think LLS is the only educational facility that needs replacement, it’s because you haven’t been in some of the others.
Westport taxes have been historically low for a long time, check in with your neighbors to the East. But the days of can kicking are coming to an end because post COVID as the real estate prices spiked, so did the expectations.
Sorry, but if we’re going to be throwing big numbers like this around can we please take the time to make sure we are reporting them accurately and, if making a comparison, ensure we’re doing so on an apples-to-apples basis?
Here, the petitioner is claiming the total cost of the project is a never-seen-before $129 million, after baking in all of the related costs, and then insists, despite no actual background in designing or building an elementary school, that the appropriate cost is $90 million, leaving all of us to raise our eyebrows at a nearly $40 million delta. But is that $90 million also inclusive of the appropriation, the existing allocation and the comparable interest expense?
If it is, what does that imply as the actual cost of the building, and what support is being offered that the project can be completed for that cost while still delivering everything the committee has been asked to deliver? If it isn’t – and I suspect it is not – then what is the appropriate comparison? Is it the $103 million appropriation, the appropriation plus the $6.7 already spent, or some other number?
Regardless, that almost certainly results in a smaller difference that likely neither elicits the same shock nor drives the same engagement. Whether intentionally misleading or just not carefully presented, if we are going to give this effort the oxygen it craves, for the sake of the community – and our collective sanity – we all owe it to each other to make sure we’re engaging on these numbers honestly and accurately.
Otherwise we’re just stoking the embers of a fire many of us hope was dying out after our town bodies collectively and unanimously voted to move forward with this project (cue cries of “special interests” or “back room dealings” or whatever other nefarious accusations have been lobbed at any of the countless people whose hard, thankless work got us to this point).
Toni, can you also do the math of how much our taxes will go down when The Hamlet is built?
Setting aside anyone’s feelings for the LLS proposal, I suspect it will be a long time before taxpayers see any net benefit from the Hamlet project!
What I’m wondering about the Hamlet, if the developers actually went through with there threat to build a 30% affordable development, if we don’t approve their plan… How close would that get Westport to the state-mandated threshold of affordable housing? Just asking the question, not advocating for it. (And glad I live on the opposite side of town, no matter what they do there.)
The concept of a referendum is consistent with our form of government. It is difficult to obtain the requisite number of signatures. One thing is clear to me, Toni Simonetti is a stand up woman, does her homework and is supportive of Westport. She is working to provide an opportunity for the Town, by a referendum, to make a statement as to the cost of the new Long Lots. Given the history of Long Lots and the performance of our elected bodies over the past many years on the issue, I believe it worthwhile to learn if a large number of residents believe the numbers for the nature of the proposed new school should be challenged. Thank you Toni.
It is time to move forward on this project. No more dela. People move her because of our wonderful schools. we need this new school built now.
Any updates/predictions on Toni’s petition?
https://open.substack.com/pub/tonisimonetti/p/connecting-the-dots?r=1dhpe&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email