FAQs
THE VOTE
Newburyport voters will be asked to approve the use of public debt to build the Newburyport Recreation and Youth Center at 59 Low Street.
A debt exclusion is when public funds are authorized for a specific use and exempt from the Prop 2-½ levy limit. This temporary tax is set at a fixed amount that doesn’t increase over time, and the tax will end when the loan is paid off.
Early voting is available starting May 3 at the Newburyport Senior Community Center. You can also vote by mail, vote absentee if you qualify, and vote in-person at your assigned polling place on May 13. Click here for voting information.
THE COST
The total cost is $8.29 million, which includes approximately $6.5 million in borrowing by debt exclusion and approximately $1.8 million from available funds such as the sale of the Kelley School, opioid settlement funds, and private donations. [ 1 ]
This project will cost approximately $0.05 per $1,000 of assessed value. For example, if your home is assessed at $1,000,000, this project will cost you approximately $53 per year. However, the city is also paying off a previous debt exclusion for the high school this year, which means that those debt payments will end. For the same $1,000,000 home referenced above, this results in a savings of $38 per year. Therefore, the net debt-excluded tax increase for the Rec Center is just $15 per year. [ 2 ]
Calculate your tax impact here.
The project includes a 7% contingency that will cover unforeseen cost escalations. In addition, the contractor will be required to honor their bid prices if the City initiates the contract by June 13. [3]
Newburyport Recreation and Youth Services operates most of their programs with user fees and grants. Instead of user fees going toward renting temporary space, those fees can cover the cost to operate and maintain the building. [4]
The impact on the city’s operating budget will be $53,071 in 2026, when the building is scheduled to open. That’s actually about $10K lower than the current cost to maintain the empty Brown School and rent temporary space for RYS. [5]
Newburyport can afford projects by applying for grants from the federal and state governments as well as foundations and other sources. The city can also stagger spending by strategically implementing projects when public debt is paid off. For example, the cost of the proposed Recreation and Youth Center will be mitigated by the Newburyport High School renovation project bond being paid off.
No. The Water & Sewer department’s operations and capital improvements to infrastructure are funded by user rates, privilege fees, and grants. Additional Water & Sewer revenue is generated by residents of Newbury as well as wholesale water sales to West Newbury. [6]
No. Because the Rec Center debt will be excluded from the levy limit, the city has options to raise the funds to cover emergency expenses. Additionally, the city keeps a balance of “free cash” which is intended to be used for unplanned, emergency expenses.
Newburyport’s Council on Aging offers support for seniors who struggle to afford their taxes or other necessities. These supports include food assistance, tax and legal assistance, and transportation services. Newburyport also provides a tax work-off program for seniors to defray up to $2,000 in property taxes annually.
Learn more about the Council on Aging here.
THE BUILDING
The Rec Center will include a gym, teen hangout, multipurpose room, art/maker space, early education space, meeting rooms, offices, and a concessions/reception area. All areas will be fully accessible and designed to support a wide range of community programming. [7]
Building only a gym would not meet the broader needs of RYS, which provides services that go beyond physical activity to include academic support, leadership training, mentoring, arts, cooking and more.
Additionally, constructing a gym on this site would still require extensive upgrades to the property to meet ADA requirements, making it cost prohibitive. Simply replacing the existing building with a gym would require demolition and reconstruction of the existing building.
Yes. The current site plan includes 23 parking spaces, which meets zoning requirements. Overflow parking can be accommodated at the Nock-Molin School across the street. [8]
The project includes $338,000 in pedestrian and traffic safety upgrades, including a sidewalk, bump-outs, bike lanes, and a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon to ensure safe crossing from the school side of the street to the new facility. [9]
PROGRAMMING
Renting limits RYS’s ability to plan and operate programs effectively. There is no guarantee of access or room availability in other buildings. A permanent facility provides stability, efficiency and the potential to expand programs. A central location will assure the maximum utilization of staff and ensure programming has the required resources.
Yes. In 2024, RYS registered 6,647 participants for programs and generated $774,068.35 in revenue. Approximately 90% of registrants were Newburyport residents. [10]
Yes. The Rec Center is designed to serve not just youth but also adults and families. Current and future programs include recreation and enrichment opportunities for all ages.
Learn more about RYS programming here.
The Process
No. Sending the project back to the drawing board would not save money — it would add cost. It isn’t possible to modify the scope of the project once it’s been sent out to bid without starting the process over. Such a delay would increase cost due to inflation, additional project delivery expenses, and construction market volatility.
The city currently has a firm bid from a reputable contractor. If we allow the bid to expire, the project would face additional delays and likely higher costs when it is rebid.
Yes, the Rec Center was designed by a licensed architect and the site plan was reviewed by a licensed engineer, the Conservation Commission, and the Planning Board. This design meets current building code and Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for public facilities. Additionally, the City Council voted to allow this project to proceed to construction.
Yes. The Site Plan Review was conducted by the Planning Board in an open meeting. Reviews by the Conservation Committee were heard in an open meeting. City Council deliberated and voted in open meetings, and the public was given an opportunity to comment in these meetings. In total, there were over 50 public meetings about this project, which provided all stakeholders the opportunity to be heard. [11]
AFTER THE VOTE
Construction would begin in Summer 2025 after contract execution on July 1, 2025. [12]
Per the construction documents in the RFP, construction is expected to take 16 months. [13]
The construction bid will expire and the City will need to reassess the viability of continuing this project. A future attempt would likely cost more, with higher borrowing and construction costs.
In the meantime, RYS programs will continue to rely on renting spaces scattered across the city, leading to less program availability and higher operating costs.
The City will continue to own the property and will need to provide for maintenance and improvements for its continued use. These costs will need to be covered with taxpayer funds and will likely increase over time.
SOURCES
1. City Council Order 685, City of Newburyport
2. Tax Impact Calculator, City of Newburyport
3. Recreation and Youth Services Building Proposal, City of Newburyport
4. Fiscal Year 25 Adopted Budget, City of Newburyport
5. Building Pro Forma, City of Newburyport
6. DPS Water Division, City of Newburyport
7. Schematic Design, City of Newburyport
8. Memo to the Planning Board, October 16 Planning Board Minutes, November 6 Planning Board Minutes, CIty of Newburyport
9. Frequently Asked Questions: Proposed Recreation and Youth Services Center Project, City of Newburyport
10. Frequently Asked Questions: Proposed Recreation and Youth Services Center Project, City of Newburyport
11. Frequently Asked Questions: Proposed Recreation and Youth Services Center Project, City of Newburyport
12. Newburyport Recreation and Youth Services Building Project Bid Number IFB No. 25-15, City of Newburyport
13. Invitation for Bids No. 25-15 Addendum #3, City of Newburyport