Second community forum on Question 4 and East Providence High School Building Project to be held October 15

East Providence, RI – East Providence Public Schools will host a second community forum on Monday, October 15, to inform residents about Question 4 and the proposal to construct a new East Providence High School.

The forum will be held at 7:00 pm in the East Providence High School Auditorium, 2000 Pawtucket Ave. It will include a presentation about the proposed construction project and a question-and-answer session. On Tuesday, November 6, East Providence residents will vote on ballot Question 4, a referendum to approve $189.5 million in bonds to finance the project.

At the first community forum held last month, district officials presented additional details about the financing of the project. They explained that the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) already has approved significant State funding to support construction of the new high school, if Question 4 passes. Under the existing State formula, East Providence will receive reimbursement on at least 54.4 percent of eligible costs, a figure that could increase to 74.4 percent if voters approve a statewide bond initiative to fund school construction, which is Question 1 on the ballot.

City officials estimate that the impact on the residential tax rate will range from $0.76 to $1.17 per $1,000 assessed. The average assessment for a single-family home in East Providence is $170,578. At that assessment, the corresponding tax impact is approximately $130 to $200 per year, or $11 to $17 per month.

For more information, visit the project website, www.epbuildingcommittee.com, and follow the project on Facebook and Twitter.