Below are some of the more frequently asked questions by Brewer residents:

A: The total cost of land acquisition, the new school and the performing arts center is $39,487,883, comprised of the following:

• The State of Maine and Brewer will share the cost for land acquisition and school building construction:

   New school (State of Maine – 99.6%):      $36,717,383    
   Land acquisition (City of Brewer - 0.4%):     $133,000
   Total excluding performing arts center:  $36,850,383

• The performing arts center will cost $2,637,500, funded entirely by the City of Brewer

Thus, the total cost of the project is allocated below:

   State of Maine @ 93%:  $36,717,383
   City of Brewer @ 7%:     $ 2,770,500
   Total project cost:       $39,487,883

A: Due to current rules regarding the construction of new schools, the Maine Department of Education could not support funding the construction of auditoriums or performing arts centers at the middle school level. Due to the efficiencies that would be gained by building such a center as part of the larger project, it was decided to include that part of the new school in the overall project and ask voters to approve the additional cost.

A: Since the current buildings are aging – the middle school is more than 80 years old, and the oldest of the elementary schools (State Street) was built in 1945 – the continued deterioration, even with the best maintenance plans in place, will add up to increased costs over time. It is only a matter of time until the remaining buildings suffer the same fate as Pendleton Street, and residents may face a more costly solution. Renovating the current buildings would likely exceed the cost of the proposed school, all at local expense.

A: Since most of the project is being funded by the state, the remaining portion will be paid over the 20-year period of the bonds. This essentially spreads the principal value over the life of the bond, or just over $130,000 per year, plus interest – a minimal amount considering the total cost of the project.