Lexington approves more than $62 million in school projects

By Brock Parker, Town Correspondent

Lexington voters overwhelmingly approved more than $62 million worth of school construction projects Tuesday in a special election.

A question to fund $22.7 million in renovations to the Bridge and Bowman elementary schools passed with 3,755 votes in favor, about 66 percent of the votes cast, to 1,945 no votes, about 34 percent, according to unofficial numbers from the Lexington Town Clerk's office.

The second ballot question to fund construction of a new Estabrook Elementary School estimated at about $40 million was approved by 4,139 votes in favor, about 72 percent of the votes cast, to only 1,570 no votes, or about 27 percent.

Lexington has been seeking to expedite the reconstruction of the Estabrook school since polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, were found in the 51-year-old school in 2010. School officials anticipate the state will reimburse the town for about 32 percent of the project costs.

Combined, the Proposition 2 1/2 debt-exclusion overrides approved will increase taxes by $300 on the average Lexington home assessed at $599,000. The tax increase will diminish in subsequent years until the town pays off the debt in 20 years.

With 5,725 ballots cast, voter turnout for the special election was about 27 percent.

--brock.globe@gmail.com