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Scanlon says state will pay over half of high school cost

By Paul Leighton
Staff writer
Published: October 1, 2008

BEVERLY — The state will pay 56.42 percent of the cost of building a new high school, Mayor Bill Scanlon said yesterday, a higher percentage than he had been predicting.

But that seemingly good news for the city comes with a caveat.

Scanlon said the Massachusetts School Building Authority board of directors approved the percentage on Monday based on a total price of $75 million for the project, rather than the $82.8 million the mayor says it's going to cost.

Scanlon said he spoke yesterday with MSBA Executive Director Katherine Craven, and he expects the state to in fact pay 56.42 percent of the full cost.

"I'm led to believe this can be adjusted," Scanlon said. "I believe they're going to change (the figures)."

That would leave the city's share at approximately $36.1 million while the state would pay $46.7 million.

Scanlon said the MSBA directors set the project cost at $75 million because they were under the impression the city could come back later and ask for more money. But Scanlon said the city needs the full $82.8 million to be approved by the state now because the City Council must vote on the appropriation.

Scanlon said the city could not afford the project if the state paid its share based on $75 million rather than $82.8 million.

"We'd just put an unacceptable strain on the city if we were paying 100 percent over $75 million," he said.

"The project wouldn't be feasible at that total," he said.

Scanlon originally anticipated the state would pay at least 50 percent of the project, and had upped his prediction to 55 percent in recent months. He said the 56.42 percent approved on Monday will not change because it is based on a formula that takes into account the city's economic demographics as well as such factors as the "green" design of the new school.

Scanlon said he is scheduled to meet with Craven and other MSBA officials tomorrow or Friday to straighten out the $75 million figure. He said he will go before the City Council on Monday night with all of the updated information.

The city hopes to start construction this fall. The plan is to build a new four-story high school in the lower parking lot next to the current high school, and to renovate the field house, auditorium and cafeteria. The current high school academic wings would be demolished once the new building is complete.

Construction is expected to take two years, with the next school ready by September of 2010.