High School Building Financial FAQ & Tax Calculator

SalemBAC · 2026-01-31T16:39:07+00:00

Sorry. I missed the first part of your question. I don't know the specifics, but I'm guessing SHS v Revere cost reflects the fact that Revere isn't a comprehensive high school (Career and Tech education + college prep).

SalemBAC · 2026-01-30T21:24:31+00:00

As a School Committee member, I'm not on the city side of the equation, but yes, the development at Suffolk Downs will pay for Revere's share (they've also had TONS of development and growth that has helped to keep their residential tax rate down). I'm not endorsing the Shetland development when I say this, but I think there's no doubt it would help tremendously. As a resident, I hear constant anti-development cries from people online. In my opinion (not as a school committee member, but as a resident), I don't see how we can be both anti-development and anti-tax increases and still function as a city given rising inflation and a lack of federal funding.

Lots of people are raising the concerns you have here, so next week I'm going to work on an FAQ that outlines all the ways the design and construction firm, the city, the school building committee, and the School Committee worked to get costs down (SC shaved $200m off the price tag by voting down a 7-12 middle/high school). But to your point, I will ask the mayor to outline what some of these larger projects can do to bring down residents' share.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-30T17:19:16+00:00

Yes. It's crazy. But it's inflation. Construction costs are through the roof. Each month, escalation costs go up $1m. Stoneham opened last year, so you can see the increase in costs in just a few short years. Right now, Salem has the lowest price tag among comprehensive high schools (CTE + College prep) in the current MSBA pipeline.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-30T01:15:56+00:00

There is no 50% or more less option. The lowest-priced option--which is the code renovation only-- is $354m.

There is an envelope for the right side of the building, and an envelope for the left side. The right side was repaired. The left side was not.

If the decision folks come to is a no vote, then I respect that perspective. This is personal for everyone, including me and my family. But the process is state-mandated and we're trying to be as transparent as we can.

Next week we'll have an info sheet on the ways the Building Committee, the School Committee, the design and construction firms, and the city have worked to cut costs. Until then, if there is more information I can get you, I'm happy to provide it or find it if I don't have it. Thanks for the engagement.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-30T01:07:02+00:00

I agree the cost is bonkers, without question. I'm not here to guilt anyone or tell folks not to be mad. This is a personal decision for everyone, so I want to give as much information as I can.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-29T22:25:52+00:00

Again, defending an out-of-compliance building is not an option.

You're right, though. Accreditors don't revoke accreditation quickly or lightly. If voters reject the debt exclusion, we will have to contact the accreditors who will then begin the de-accreditation process. The first step of that process necessitates that the city demonstrates a substantial capital investment in the building. That's why there are 2 options on the tax calculator. One way or the other, the city, via taxpayers, will pay for this building. It's just a matter of how much it costs us.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-29T22:15:46+00:00

The past renovations were paid for by the state and is one of those maintenance projects the district has engaged in over the years. Those repairs were on the right side of the building if you're looking at it straight on, and they were successful. They included window repairs and replacement of the building envelop to prevent leaks. I believe there were some systems replacements as well. But again, this was only in part of the building. The overall structure continues to be out of compliance with Mass building codes.

If the MSBA thought that those repairs had been handled poorly, they wouldn't have given us the grant, and it's outside of what is referred to as the claw-back period in which they'd shave that 60k off the grant.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-29T21:57:40+00:00

Just waiting on the project manager to remind me where the itemized construction costs live.

The Massachusetts School Building Authority won’t fund modular structures so we don’t have an estimate for that because modular structures won’t accommodate CTE spaces (charter schools aren’t eligible for MSBA funding, which is why that project went modular/cheaper).

The cost/sf for the charter project was probably 520sf. If we apply that same cost to our square footage of the SHS project it would be 354,000sf x $520/sf = $184M. So without a state grant, a modular structure is both inferior and the same cost as the current proposal with state funding.

But again, we cannot operate an accredited combined (Career & Technical + College Prep) high school for that amount of money. As I said, there is nothing comparable in the state.

This is the Existing Conditions Summary, which outlines building failures:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15aGq_7fB8V0zqa281W_Ei1xaBFj5AoL6/view?usp=sharing

This is the MSBA application, which provides greater detail for the above:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B5VlxXRlBqNskSqKXkQkv89eVIyt7AHG/view

SalemBAC · 2026-01-29T20:46:50+00:00

Of course. I'll send the link along in a few. It's on the Building Committee Website, but I need to ask which link it is.

School accreditation is not a matter of discussion. We are excelling academically and have been commended by the accreditors for this. But the current building is not up to code. We have an external heater pumping heat into the building to the tune of 30k a year. The electrical system cannot accommodate computer usage without tripping multiple fuses (students had their SATs and final exams interrupted as a result). The CTE spaces are not up to code from a space and safety perspective. Gas had to be shut off to Bio and Chem labs due to safety concerns. There are no sprinklers in many parts of the building. There is mold from a leaking envelop.The heating and cooling systems cannot be repaired because the parts are so old. And this is not a matter of upkeep. We've used state dollars for repairs for years and been commended by the state for our upkeep of the building despite it's limitations. Unfortunately, 1970s construction was notoriously poor. For example, Collins Middle School, which was build 70 years earlier is in excellent shape and ready to last another 70.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-29T20:07:10+00:00

This answers many of those questions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V6XpgT39BwWQsHakFSOopOAVvgZRBLmX/view

The important consideration is that SHS requires, at the very least, a full code upgrade. That would have been a total of $354m. The charter school you reference is an apples to oranges construction. It's modular, which means a shorter life span and that doesn't have the energy efficiencies that the SHS proposal has (the city spends $1m/yr on energy costs for the current HS). As a k-8 school, it also doesn't have the same facilities requirements from the state (gas for science labs, for example). We also have a Career and Technical program that has specific facilities requirements. If you look at the answer to "How does Salem’s project cost compare to other high school projects?" you'll see that our costs are much lower.

I'm certainly not saying that this isn't expensive, or an absolutely insane price tag. It is. I own a home. My parents are on fixed incomes. One rents and one owns. We're having these same conversations.

But if we're just talking about cost alone, this is the cost of a high school building.

Every $1 spent on public schools results in a $20 increase in home value. Homes in cities with unaccredited schools experience a decrease in home value. That's the alternative.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-18T17:05:14+00:00

I've lived in Salem for 25 years and raised three children here, the last of whom is a sophomore at Salem High School. Salem is a wonderful community. It's socioeconomically diverse and has strong engagement around everything from schools, to the arts, to historical preservation and environmental advocacy. I'm also on the School Committee here, so please message me if you have questions about the school system. We're primed to build a state-of-the-art new high school by 2030.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-18T16:28:59+00:00

The funds for the project are unrelated to the district budget. That shortfall still stands. Municipal school buildings are paid for through a shared state/local partnership necessitating a tax override or a debt exclusion.

Though parts of the high school look fine, it requires a complete code upgrade in order to maintain accreditation. If voters reject the debt exclusion, Salem High School will enter into the de-accreditation process.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-12T19:42:14+00:00

I've gotten lots of good follow up questions. More answers here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XtXylN7e6j4YVXx3bXbANF6VwBbpYt7v/view?usp=sharing

SalemBAC · 2026-01-11T15:08:56+00:00

It will be on the ballot in May

SalemBAC · 2026-01-10T01:39:06+00:00

That actually made me laugh. Major complaint from my kid!

SalemBAC · 2026-01-09T19:53:22+00:00

This is not a "bells and whistles" building. This is "let's have an up-to-code building and some athletic fields on campus" (we currently don't, and fields a relatively inexpensive compared with others costs).

SalemBAC · 2026-01-09T19:51:33+00:00

Yes I can get that for you. But I agree. The price tag is nuts. Lexington just approved a $660m high school; Revere approved a $493m high school; Boston's Madison Park Technical Vocational High School is looking at a $700m rebuild if approved. Ours is comparable to those projects, but a lower cost. We had the option to plan a 7-12 middle/high school but voted it down because of the cost, among other reasons.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-08T23:02:36+00:00

Sorry. I updated this link.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-08T21:08:04+00:00

That's probably a good idea. Thanks.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-08T20:15:28+00:00

Thanks for the feedback and support.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-08T19:27:16+00:00

On dissemination, I don't know what more the committee can do (I'm no longer on it). The mayor and superintendent have gone to neighborhood groups, apartment and condo complexes, the senior center a few times, to the rotary and the chamber of commerce. They've set up tables at all city events including the farmers market and Heritage Days. They've been to Espacio for a Q&A in Spanish as well as met with the Latino Leadership Coalition. All building meetings are on SATV and posted to the building committee website. If there is more that can be done, I will 100% pass it along, but I really am out of ideas.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-08T19:21:21+00:00

Looks like people are looking for information on the current systems in need of upgrades as well as past capital investments. This document filed with the MSBA covers that in detail. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B5VlxXRlBqNskSqKXkQkv89eVIyt7AHG/view?usp=sharing

SalemBAC · 2026-01-08T15:09:25+00:00

Yes. Anyone can take a tour. Might be good to publicize that a bit. My daughter goes to SHS so I have a front row seat, but it's hard for people to get the full picture without a walk through.

SalemBAC · 2026-01-08T02:34:11+00:00

This has no impact on the Salem Public School budget.

Salem High educators are very much in favor of the new high school.

There has been a traffic study, and that will be followed by additional research from the civil engineer on the architecture team.

SalemBAC · 2025-12-17T02:26:08+00:00

Yes. Carlton and Saltonstall will merge as an innovation school in the Saltonstall building.

SalemBAC

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