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January 23, 2008

Coventry bond vote aims at funding renovations / Photo

Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
In the Town Council Chambers at Coventry Town Hall, voters sign in today with poll supervisers, fom right, Frank Dolan, Estelle Cipolla, Anthony Petrucci and Victoria Brown.

Coventry residents are deciding today at a bond issue referendum whether they want to fund nearly $20 million in renovations.

The package proposal includes $9 million for schools, including roof renovations, fire safety upgrades and heating system repairs. An additional $1 million would be used to renovate the athletic complex at Coventry High School.

Voters will also be deciding on a $4.8 million plan to turn the former Flat River Middle School into a new Town Hall, and move the Coventry Senior Center to the old Town Hall.

Another $4 million of the $19.8-million bond would go toward police facilities – either a new headquarters or a thorough renovation of the existing building.

Coventry Public Library would also benefit, with $1 million to expand, and the town’s public works department would get $500,000 for equipment and park maintenance.

Today’s referendum is an all-or-nothing proposition, something critics have said may turn voters off, because they cannot pick and choose what projects to support.

But if the proposal is approved, it would add an estimated 35 cents to the property tax rate – a home valued at $300,000 would see a $105 increase on the annual tax bill.

Click below to find your polling place.

-- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 11:17 AM | Permalink

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Coventry Resident | January 24, 2008 8:57 AM link

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