Groton voters will decide Monday whether to authorize $133 million in bonds to pay for a remake of their public school system fashioned to enhance education and cut costs.

It is a daunting proposal given the difficult and uncertain economic times, an issue so divisive it has splintered elected officials and townspeople unlike any other in recent Groton history.

Opponents maintain the town simply can't afford it. But can Groton afford not to make the sweeping changes? That is the question the community has debated for months now.

The current state reimbursement for the project is 66 percent for the eligible costs, if approved by June 30 and started by April 1, 2012. That reimbursement will bring about $68 million to Groton, leaving $66 million for the town to finance through borrowing. But offsetting half that remaining cost, proponents argue, will be savings from reductions in salaries, benefits and operational expenses.

This week an outside auditor who reviewed the project's calculations concluded it would save the district $61 million over 25 years, almost $40 million of that in salaries and benefits, and $7.2 million in the first three years. That is a compelling assessment for taxpayers to consider.

Phase II is multidimensional. It would consolidate all the town's seventh- and eighth-graders in one new middle school built at the site of the Claude B. Chester Elementary School.

Sixth-graders, who are at three middle schools, would move to five intermediate-elementary schools serving second- through sixth-graders.

New early education centers serving pre-kindergarten through first-graders would open in a renovated West Side Middle School and a new building at the site of the S.B. Butler Elementary School.

Two schools - Fitch Middle and Pleasant Valley - would close, reducing the number of schools to nine from 11.

The plan benefits the town academically and financially. A design committee invested five years studying the town's school buildings, available property and funding sources. It determined Phase II will enhance academic offerings and improve facilities for less than the cost of maintaining aging structures and paying for their eventual renovations.

Consolidating the middle school into one building will result in staff reductions and labor savings of $2.7 million annually, according to school officials. Further savings can be expected from new energy efficient technologies that will be installed in the new and renovated school buildings. Groton can anticipate low construction bids from companies eager to compete for work.

Among the controversial facets of Phase II is implementation of full-day kindergarten and pre-kindergarten for 4-year-olds. Although not currently mandated, such early childhood programming will likely be required in the not-too-distant future, with prodding from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, a big proponent. And that is because there are proven, long-term benefits to educating students at such an early age.

For every dollar not spent on pre-kindergarten, the equivalent cost later is $8 for students who haven't had the benefit and need to catch up. It simply costs more to provide remedial help later than to give the youngest students a strong foundation.

If Groton rejects the plan it is going to be expensive to make the necessary building upgrades its schools require. School officials estimate that cost at about $56 million, and there will not be state reimbursements. The town would also lose the flexibility to expand its early childhood services.

Taxpayers will be making a mistake if they simply look at the high price tag and reject the proposal on the premise that "the town can't afford it." The reality is that defeating Phase II is likely to cost the town more over the long run and limit educational options.

People may not like parts of the project, such as reconfiguring grade levels, closing schools or enhancing early childhood services, but taken as a whole the Phase II project is fiscally sound and educationally advantageous for Groton.

The Day recommends a yes vote.