MILFORD, Del. - Tonight the community of Milford is voting on the future of Milford Middle School. Some residents are saying that revitalization is needed while others are against the rising of local taxes.
"The people who pay taxes, the people who live here, people who work here it's an investment in their community," said Frank Wisniewski, Milford resident of 8 years.
Wisniewski and his wife headed to the polls Wednesday morning to vote "yes" on the Milford referendum that could potentially revitalize Milford Middle School,
which has been sitting on an empty lot with its doors closed for nearly 6 years.
"It brings more people here that seize an investment in this community, it enhances a community to have a better school, a better education," added Wisniewski.
"I don't believe that there's been an oversight in the financial system in the school district here in Delaware," said Bill Sharp, a Milford resident of over 10 years.
He says part of the reason he voted "no" Wednesday is due to the increase of local taxes.
"I think they get enough in taxes. I think there's a lot of mismanagement, they should have some kind of oversight," explained Sharp.
School officials say the building is estimated to cost about $57 million dollars and taxes would go up for city residents, but not right away.
The first year, taxes would not increase, but a second and third year would see an increase.
By years four and five the taxes would be back on the decline.
The district estimates the community would be responsible for around $14 million and around $42 million would be leveraged from the state.
"We just need more space. We are growing and we are starting to exceed capacity limits at our present schools and we're also seeing not only student growth but we're also seeing residential growth here that are bringing in more students as well," said Milford School District Superintendent Dr. Kevin Dickerson.
If you take a look at the old middle school you'll see that there are boarded windows, cracks on the brick walls, and much more. The school says that if this referendum does pass they hope to keep the gymnasium the auditorium and the outside athletic field for community use.
The school says they have over 1,120 students enrolled at Milford Central Academy, and that the building was built for 985 students.
Renovations would allow space for 1,000 5th and 6th graders and restore a historic landmark in Delaware.
Voting will close at 8 p.m. If approved by the community the project wouldn't begin until the Fall of 2022.