Voting Tuesday on two school projects issues in Marblehead

MARBLEHEAD – Don?t forget to vote Tuesday and help make a decision on two important school projects: the Marblehead Village School repairs and the Glover-Eveleth School construction study.Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Old Town House (Precinct 1), the Star of the Sea Community Center (Precincts 2, 3 and 4) and the Marblehead Community Center (Precincts 5, 6 and 7).Two-thirds votes will be required to pass both measures.Both override questions deal with bond issues. The so-called debt exclusion overrides allow the town to raise money for a limited period for long-term capital projects, and the override expires when the bond issue ends. The Glover-Eveleth feasibility study is expected to be funded with a five-year bond issue, for example, and that bond issue will cost the owner of a median ($541,900) home an additional $5.54 a year.The Village School cost is estimated at $21.8 million, but the Marblehead School Building Authority has approved the project for at least 40 percent reimbursement. The Glover-Eveleth feasibility study is estimated at $395,000 and the total project, if the feasibility study is successful, is estimated at $22.9 million.Proponents estimated the tax bill cost of the Village School repairs, which include the school boiler system and other related needs – replacement of the roof ceiling and light fixtures, handicapped access deficiencies and the school?s fire-suppression and life-safety systems – at about $100 a year for a median home.Further information on the reasons for the override, from the proponents? viewpoint, is available at www.MarbleheadTheTimeIsNow.com.