Leominster Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella and the city’s school building team presented the schematic design and preliminary financing plan for a proposed new Fallbrook Elementary School, and the City Council voted 9–0 to accept General Law Chapter 64L, Section 2A to implement a 0.75% local meals excise tax to help pay project debt.

The school project team said the new building is the city’s preferred option after feasibility studies comparing renovation, addition-renovation and new construction. Craig DeCarlo of the owner’s project management (OPM) team said the city is “very close to the end of step number 4, called schematic design.” He and the architect, Nereda Rodriguez of MDS Architects, described site layout, a two-story classroom design and spaces that can be locked for after-hours community use.

The project timeline presented forecasts design through 2026, construction from October 2026 through October 2028 and a move into a new school with subsequent demolition of the old building. The design team said the new school will be about one-third larger than the existing Fallbrook facility to meet current educational and accessibility standards.

Why this matters: city leaders said the local meals option is one tool to show the state a reliable revenue stream for the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) project funding agreement. Mayor Mazzarella told councilors the meals tax ‘‘is the sole purpose of this revenue stream . . . to reduce the overall cost of the Fallbrook Elementary School project, and . . . to reduce the debt service for the life of its financing.” The Department of Revenue (DOR) would collect the local portion and remit quarterly to the city.

Key figures and funding structure: the design team presented an estimated construction cost of about $90,000,000 and a total project budget listed “just under” $115,000,000 (professional fees, furnishings and soft costs included). The presenters said the MSBA’s preliminary share could be roughly $64,000,000, with an additional Green Schools program estimate of about $3,400,000; the city’s share was presented at just over 41 percent in preliminary estimates. Project managers cautioned those are estimates and that the MSBA will set the maximum grant in a project scope and budget agreement after its April review.

Project managers and finance staff also warned that stated reimbursement rates are often lower than published percentages once exclusions, caps and non-reimbursable items are taken into account; the presenters said the real reimbursement can fall “into the high fifties” of eligible costs rather than advertised 70 percent figures.

Community outreach and next steps: the team said they have held visioning and public meetings (November and January) and planned an additional public Zoom meeting for March 18 at 6:30 p.m. They maintain a project website and QR code with meeting materials, and the MSBA will review the schematic package at its April 30 board meeting. If the MSBA approves, the city will have 120 days to deliver a project funding plan, including proposed local financing.

Council concerns and process notes: at least one councilor raised a procedural concern that the school presentation was not advertised on the council agenda before tonight’s meeting. The mayor and presenters said the school has been discussed in public sessions and that the mayor brought the team to the council meeting specifically to show how the meals tax ties to the project financing timetable and the June submission deadline to the MSBA.

Votes at a glance (council action during same meeting)
- C36 — Accept General Law Chapter 64L, Section 2A (local meals excise, 0.75%): approved 9–0 (roll call: David Cormier Yea; Pauline Cormier Yea; Artinger Yea; Angelini Yea; Tassi Yea; Shalifo Zephyr Yea; Robbins Yea; Frida Yea; President (Mayor) recorded Yea). Purpose: to create a revenue stream estimated by DOR at $800,000–$1,400,000 annually for Leominster to be held in a dedicated account for the Fallbrook project.
- C39 — Appropriation: $2,000,000 to Police Station Capital Project Fund (pay down construction debt): approved 9–0; order adopted 9–0.
- C40 — Appropriation: $637,722.05 to SOAR department capital outlay: approved 9–0; order adopted 9–0.
- C41 — Appropriation: $167,039.79 to Water Department capital outlay: approved 9–0; order adopted 9–0.
- C42 — Appropriation: $675,000 to Snow & Ice accounts ($525,000 expense; $150,000 overtime): approved 9–0; order adopted 9–0.
- C43 — Appropriation: $375,000 to Rubbish account (recycling and mattress disposal costs): approved 9–0; order adopted 9–0.
- C44 — Appropriation: $1,250,000 to Stabilization Fund (transfer from excess and deficiency): approved 9–0; order adopted 9–0.
- C45 — Appropriation: $250,000 to Fire Department public safety overtime (chair recused): approved 8–0; order adopted 8–0.
- C46 — Appropriation (collective bargaining): estimated $163,303.53 to fire accounts for FY25 contract settlement (chair recused): approved 8–0; order adopted 8–0.
- C47 — Appropriation: $12,908 to paramedic accounts for FY25 contract settlement: approved 9–0; order adopted 9–0.
- C48 — Appropriation: $64,898.34 to non-union accounts for FY25 contract adjustments: approved 9–0; order adopted 9–0.
- C49 — Appropriation: $25,000 to paramedics overtime: approved 9–0; order adopted 9–0.

What’s next: the MSBA will review the schematic package on April 30. If MSBA grants a project scope and budget agreement, the city must present a financing plan within 120 days. City officials said they prefer to rely on a mix of the meals tax revenue, existing debt capacity and some bonding; final local tax or debt questions would be resolved as part of the FY26 budget cycle and any required voter actions (debt exclusion) in later stages.

Ending note: project managers emphasized estimates will change as bids and final MSBA grant figures are set. The design team urged residents to review the project website and attend the March 18 Zoom meeting to ask questions and review drawings.