Editor's note: this version corrects a paraphrased quote from Rep. Bruce McDermott.

Groton — The chairman of the School Facilities Initiative Task Force didn't mince words Wednesday when speaking about the proposed school building plan.

"It's time to pay the piper," Chairman Jon Heller said after presenting the plan to the Representative Town Meeting and the public.

He said the task force was told to come up with a plan to upgrade the schools and it delivered.

"That's just the harsh reality," he said.

The proposed school construction plan would build one new middle school adjacent to Robert E. Fitch High School and two new elementary schools at the site of the existing middle schools, at a total cost of $192 million, or about $95 million to local taxpayers after state reimbursement.

Pleasant Valley, Claude Chester and S.B. Butler elementary schools would be closed.

Heller said he doesn't like paying taxes any more than anyone else, but the town put off work on the schools for years and years, and rejected a $133 million school construction referendum in 2011.

Now state reimbursement rates are falling and the schools need repairs like roofs that can't wait, Superintendent Michael Graner said.

Groton would need $55 million to keep the buildings going, he said.

The task force offered this choice: Pay an average of $150 in extra taxes per year, for 20 years (to cover $55 million in upgrades) and have what you already have; or pay an average of $250 in extra taxes per year, for 23 years, for three new schools.

"The time to act is now. We can't continue to kick this can," Heller said.

But RTM members asked pointed questions as well.

"We never see a reduction in anything," RTM member Richard J. Pasqualini Jr. said.

With new buildings, should the town expect a stable annual education budget?

"I'm investing," he said. "What am I getting on my return?"

RTM member Bill Smith estimated the project would result in a 7 percent tax hike per year for property owners — not counting any other potential tax increases.

"What do we get in terms of reasonable student performance relative to today?" he asked.

Rep. Bruce McDermott said he saw a month or two ago that the real estate website Zillow.com had ranked Robert E. Fitch High School with a 4. The ranges is from 1-10.

Another RTM member questioned whether the $192 million cost includes financing. Town Manager Mark Oefinger said it includes the initial bonding cost but not the financing.

d.straszheim@theday.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim