AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) – Amherst voters are going to the polls Tuesday to approve or deny a construction project for a new elementary school.

The proposed school would replace the existing Fort River and Wildwood Elementary Schools, and would be the town’s first public facility with net-zero carbon emissions. It would also be ADA accessible.

The building would cost the town of Amherst over $50 million. In order to cover those costs, the town is holding this vote on a debt exclusion which would allow Amherst to raise additional tax revenue to pay for the debt service for borrowing funds for the school’s completion.

Talk about this building has been circulating for years. Heather Sheldon of Amherst told 22News, “This project is super important to Amherst and it’s been in the works for a very very long time and so today is the day for people to come out and show it.”

The wording of the question is:

“Shall the city known as the Town of Amherst be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two-and-one-half, so called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued in order to construct, originally equip and furnish an elementary school on the Fort River site, located at 70 South East Street, Amherst, Massachusetts, including the cost of architectural design, project management, demolition of the existing building and other necessary site improvements and all costs incidental and related thereto?”

The building is anticipated to be net-zero carbon emissions by running on all electric power while also providing financially and environmentally friendly heating, cooling and ventilation systems.

Polls in Amherst are open from 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Tuesday.