Newton North's ripple effect

Controversy may play override role

A rendering of the new Newton North. At $197.5 million, it would be the most expensive high school project in the state.

The Newton North High School replacement project is the $197.5 million elephant in the room, changing the shape of finances and politics in the city.

At that price, the new Newton North would be the most expensive school building in the state. Its costs rose so fast that aldermen approved an additional $56.3 million in spending just 15 months after their $141 million appropriation in January of last year.

The effects of Newton North can be seen in Mayor David Cohen's popularity, in the perception of Newton in state government, and now as a key factor in the vote scheduled for May 20 on a $12 million tax increase.

Proponents and opponents of the requested Proposition 2 1/2 override say the Newton North issue will make or break their campaigns. Proponents say they have to fight the belief among some residents that the tax increase would help pay for Newton North, even though the funds are earmarked for other school district and municipal needs, and the public's growing distrust in the city's management of the project. Opponents say they must convince voters that there would be no override if not for Newton North, and that the administration cannot be trusted to effectively manage city finances.

"The biggest issue right now, regarding everything in the city, is the issue of trust with the mayor's administration because of Newton North," said Alderman William Brandel, who supported a limited override to level-fund schools and government services for next fiscal year. "There are two things you don't want voters thinking about as they walk into the polling booth: One is the mayor and the other is the high school."

That's why Cohen, who was a campaigning force for Newton's only prior operating override, in 2002, is not out front stumping for this proposal, Brandel and four other aldermen said.

"The mayor's not involved in the day-to-day strategy in the campaign to pass the override," spokesman Jeremy Solomon said. "He's one of the lead proponents and believes in it, but he's leaving the campaign to Move Newton Forward." The citizens group was formed in January to promote the override, stating that the city needs the money because expenses, particularly for health insurance, pensions, and electricity, are rising faster than revenue.

Its opposition, Newton for Fiscal Responsibility, says the city needs to find ways to control spending, beginning with the new high school.

Cohen has spoken at two school forums about the override, and said he will address the issue in detail during a budget address scheduled for Monday.

During a news conference three days ago, Cohen said he will "leave it to the pundits to decide" what impact Newton North has had on his popularity, but said he will continue with his "lifetime obligation to public service."

Under the proposed override, Newton schools would receive $8.5 million of the $12 million, with the rest helping to fund city departments. Solomon said the city needs $2.6 million of its share simply to maintain services, staff, and programs in the fiscal year starting July 1, and Superintendent Jeffrey Young said $5.7 million of the school district's portion would go to the same goal.

Cohen said the override is needed to counter sharply rising health insurance, pension, and energy costs, and there are enough funds in the city's capital budget to pay for the Newton North project.

As far as whether the city will require overrides in the future, Cohen said, the situation will be evaluated on a year-to-year basis.

Brandel said the issue facing voters is whether to reject the override, thereby forcing the city to run more efficiently, or pass the override, possibly undercutting incentive to make city operations more lean and then face more overrides in the future.

"The answer comes down to: What do you trust to happen?" he said. "Do you trust, if you pass this override, the money will be managed effectively and the right decisions will be made moving forward so we're not setting ourselves for a worse position in the future?"

Rachana Rathi can be reached at rrathi@globe.com.