Millis officials urge voters to back Middle-High School renovation, explain tax impact

Select Board members used the Nov. 24 meeting to update residents ahead of a binding town vote on a Millis Middle-High School renovation plan supported by MSBA funding.

A Select Board member said the middle-high school "is almost 70 years old" and "has been maintained throughout its life," countering social-media claims that the building was neglected. Officials said limitations in educational design, aging infrastructure and modern safety requirements make renovation with MSBA support the preferred option over short-term repairs or replacement without grant support.

Board members reviewed town debt and tax impacts, distinguishing exempt debt (which increases taxes) from non-exempt debt (paid from operating funds). The board described four recent exempt borrowings that affected taxes — the library, police and fire facilities, and the Clyde Brown School — and presented town-level amortization examples. Officials told residents the average household share attributable to major projects is in the low hundreds annually and that the proposed new school estimate would change as principal is paid down and the town grows.

Officials encouraged residents to review early-voting hours and materials and to consider the long-term needs of local schools when voting.