NAUGATUCK — When borough voters go to the polls Monday, they'll decide whether to borrow $7.87 million for construction projects at local schools, town streets and sewers, and the aging Whittemore Memorial Bridge.

Two ballot referendums, part of the Capital Projects Committee's five-year plan, could finance renovation and dust cleaning at several schools, upgrades of playgrounds and sidewalks, two new parking lots and lighting on Rotary Field. If approved, they would allow for construction not possible in the already-strapped town budget.

While most burgesses say the questions are the only way of accomplishing long-term town projects, others believe these items could be addressed within the borough budget over time — or financed through grass-roots efforts by Naugatuck organizations.

And some residents question whether the borrowing will increase taxes.

"They're projects that are absolutely needed," said Bob Neth, a Republican burgess running for re-election and chairman of the Capital Projects Committee. "We have items that were put through the normal budget process that seemed to get cut every year."

The ballot questions ask whether the town should borrow $5.787 million for the borough's five-year capital projects plan, including about $3 million for repair, renovation and equipment at schools. The second asks if the borough should borrow $2 million to repair and renovate the historic Whittemore Bridge, built in 1955 but now considered deficient by the state Department of Transportation.

Burgesses say that some of the items that could be financed through the referendum are safety hazards, including non-existent sidewalks on City Hill Street, Naugatuck's 100-year-old sewers and the Whittemore Bridge.

"If anybody goes up City Hill Street, they're going to see kids walking on the street because there's no sidewalk," Neth said. "We have a school on the street."

While the Whittemore Bridge is not about to collapse, it gets weaker each year, and burgesses say they need access to money when the time comes to rebuild. An inspection last fall found cracks, falling concrete and exposed steelwork. Four years ago, DOT imposed a 40-ton weight limit on vehicles crossing eastbound.

Before construction can start, the town needs engineering plans and permits from the state — a process that often takes more than two years. If construction begins immediately, the state would pay for 32 percent of the job, according to James Stewart, borough engineer.

"Water is percolating through the deck, and the concrete is falling off the bottom," Stewart said.

One burgess says certain projects should not be financed until they are more critical.

"I don't believe in what I call credit card government," said Mindy Fragoso, the Democratic burgess who voted against the first question but is in favor of the Whittemore Bridge renovation. "The taxpayers are burdened enough."

Fragoso said some of the projects could be financed in the borough budget over time or accomplished through grass-roots fund-raising from local organizations, such as the lighting upgrade for Rotary Field and purchasing the Peter J. Foley Field parking lot.

Patrick Scully Sr., who is running for burgess on the Democratic ticket, also is against question one because he says it is too vague. He thinks voters should decide individually on smaller amounts of borrowing.

"I don't see spending $7 million to get $3 million worth of good stuff," he said.

Certain projects outlined in the referendum, like cleaning air ducts in the schools, should be budgeted yearly rather than stuck into a long-term referendum, Scully said. He is also worried that some schools are excluded from the referendum.

But the committee argues that the projects are all necessary — they already eliminated excessive and unpopular projects from the ballot, including the politically unpopular connection of lower and upper Osborn Road and a west side firehouse. "They wouldn't be on the ballot if they weren't needed," Neth said. "If people go to the polls and say we can't afford it, then they speak."

Neth said money will be borrowed for each project individually, rather than the entire amount at once, so it will not have that great an effect on yearly taxes. Both the $5.787 million and $2 million will be financed through 20-year bonds, he said.

The Capital Projects Committee meets every four years to discuss future projects. The committee's first referendum, for $6.4 million, passed in 2000.

With that money, the town installed air conditioning in Town Hall and new bleachers in Naugatuck High School. It is starting construction on the Rubber Avenue Bridge and Rubber Avenue Extension projects.

If the questions fail, the Capital Projects Committee may meet during the summer for a re-evaluation. Because the borough cannot afford the projects under the current budget, voters who fail the questions on Monday may see them in another form on a November ballot.

"It seems to be the methodology now," Fragroso said. "I would rather see us put a little bit aside in our budget every year."