Ayer residents have approved a $11.55 million debt exclusion to help finance a new $15.1 million senior center on town-owned property on Bishop Road.
The town held a one-question Special Town Election today (Tuesday, Nov. 4th) from noon to 8 pm and announced the results this evening shortly before 9 p.m.
1,031 residents voted in the Special Town Election, representing 15.73 percent of the town’s registered voters, according to the results. The results did not note how many residents voted through absentee or early voting measures.
This was the second victory for the Senior Center. Last week, the Oct. 27th Special Town Meeting saw 287 voters turn out, one of the town’s highest attendance levels. The town moderator declared Article 10 passed by a 2/3 majority in a voice vote.
Article 10 had asked Special Town Meeting to appropriate $13.55 million by transferring $2 million in from the Capital Stabilization Fund and borrowing $11.55 million through a debt exclusion.
This meeting was unique in how many older adults responded to the Friends of the Ayer Senior Center’s outreach and attended the meeting.
And going into Special Town Meeting, the Finance Committee had voted 2-1-1 not to recommend Article 10. Two Finance Committee members spoke at Town Meeting, sharing the committee’s concern and caution about the cost of the 13,000-square-foot building. This may be more common in other towns, but it’s very rare for a committee in Ayer.
With this vote, the town can borrow up to $11.55 million by debt exclusion, which works out to an estimated $165 annual increase on the average residential tax bill for a 25-year borrowing term. The town management, boards and committees had discussed a $10 million debt exclusion over the past year and voters were advised that could still be the scenario. But ultimately, the $11.55 million was proposed in case Community Development Block Grant funds do not come through in this climate of federal budget cuts.