Rhode Island voters weigh $250M school referendum

PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island voters will soon decide whether the state will spend $250 million to rebuild schools.

The statewide ballot question Tuesday asks voters’ permission for the first phase of an ambitious school construction plan. Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo has championed it, asking for a “once-in-a-generation investment” to fix schools after years of neglect.

The money, spread over five years, would help municipalities build new schools and renovate existing facilities as part of a 10-year plan. If approved, the state money, combined with municipal spending, is expected to eventually total more than $2 billion. Voters would be asked to approve another $250 million in 2022.

There’s no major concerted opposition to the question, but some have questioned whether all school districts would benefit. Several municipalities have local questions on Tuesday’s ballot asking voters for permission to borrow money for school infrastructure repairs.

Voters are also being asked to authorize $70 million on higher education facilities and $47.3 million for environmental and recreational projects, in the other two statewide ballot questions.

The $70 million would go to the University of Rhode Island Narragansett Bay campus and the Rhode Island College Feinstein School of Education and Human Development.

Using $45 million, URI would build a large Ocean Technology building to serve as a hub for scientific innovation and discovery, and upgrade its pier for a new research vessel, modernize its technology and build a marine operations facility. Rhode Island College would use $25 million renovate the building that houses its school of education, which was built in 1971 and hasn’t been updated.

The $47.3 million would go to 10 environmental and recreational projects throughout the state. Among the projects, $5 million would be used to make improvements to wastewater treatment facilities to guard against flooding, $5 million would be used for the state’s system of bike paths and nearly $8 million would be used to provide capital for clean water and drinking water projects.

Rhode Island voters haven’t defeated a question seeking to bond money since 2006, when they rejected a proposal for $4 million to improve a state park, according to the secretary of state’s office.