You May Be In Foreclosure, But At Least You’ve Still Got Your Rock-Climbing Wall

Foreclosures soared 80 percent in July here in Massachusetts.  Unemployment is still 9 percent. Property taxes have gone up an average of 11 percent since Gov. Patrick took office.

But it’s all good, because Newton’s got a brand-new $197 million high school!  And you’re paying for it!

It doesn’t matter whether or not you live in Newton—the Taj MaHigh is still on your tab. We chipped in $47 million of the costs.  Plus all that money means a smaller state contribution to build YOUR local school—which means it costs you more locally, too.

These numbers are even worse when you compare them to other construction costs. As education expert Jay P. Greene notes:

The median new school built in 2007 cost $188 per sq. ft. for elementary schools, $211 per sq. ft. for middle schools, and $175 per sq. ft. for high schools. By comparison, the median cost per square foot to build a three story factory in 2007 ranged from $83 in Winston-Salem to $136 in NY City, with most major metro areas hovering around $100 per square foot.

The Taj MaHigh cost $200 million for just over 400,000 sq. ft.  Which, if you were lucky enough to attend a school with a biodome, you’d know works out to about $490 per. That’s three times the construction costs in NYC.

You might think that, in the middle of a recession with huge numbers of taxpayers out of work and/or in foreclosure, talking about your brand-new Olympic swimming pools, “simulated outdoor areas,” TV studios and interactive white boards might be a little, well, embarrassing. It’s like having dinner at your brother-in-law’s house after he loses his job, and you’re bragging that your new BMW comes with a free spa membership.

But do these educrats and government hacks look embarrassed? Not in the least. They’re bursting with pride.  Mayor Warren said that, after the beatdown from outraged taxpayers “we could sulk inside, but we’re going to celebrate!”

Yesterday it was Brockton. Today it’s Newton.  Every day there’s a different tale, but they’re all part of the same story: Your government is run by arrogant, elitist clowns who honestly believe there’s no limit to the amount of their abuse you’re willing to take.

Will you prove them wrong in November? Or will you wait for the next Taj MaHigh to hit your town?