AUBURN — A committee voted 10-5 Thursday night to recommend building a new high school, rather than renovating or adding on to Edward Little.

The recommendation from the New High School Steering Committee will go to elected officials, who will decide whether to ask local voters for approval.

That referendum likely will not take place this year, Superintendent Katy Grondin said.

The big “how much?” question was not addressed Thursday. The price tag will become clearer as the committee and the architect continue to work to determine what kind of school would be built.

Earlier estimates showed it could cost $62 million to build a new school, $50 million to renovate. City Manager Clinton Deschene passed out information showing the impact on property taxes for a home valued at $150,000 would be about $270 a year for a $50 million bond, and $336 a year for a $62 million bond.

Committee members voting for a new building were Jim Miller, Bonnie Hayes, Bill Horton, Billy Hunter, Tom Kendall, Pam Delong, Mary LaFontaine, Steve Martelli, Larry Pelletier and Patricia Gautier.

The five who favored renovation were Elliott Epstein, Alfreda Fournier, Joyce Gibson, Churchill Barten and Leighton Cooney.

Miller, who is the high school principal, said he favors using as much of the existing school as possible, including the gym, and building new from the gym out.

In giving direction before the vote, Steering Committee Chairman Tom Kendall said the vote was not on a $50 million school or a $62 million school.

“Don’t be put off by numbers at this point. That is not our charge,” Kendall said. “How something is paid for and what it’s going to cost are things for the future.” In addition to asking taxpayers to pay for the school, other avenues could include asking for help from local state legislators, selling naming rights and fundraising, Kendall said.

Committee member Epstein disagreed. “There is a great deal of fear, anxiety, frustration and concern about the consequences of paying for the school,” he said.

Auburn needs a high school it can afford, Epstein said, and there isn’t a lot of time. The recession won’t last forever, and after the recession, construction costs “are going to take off,” Epstein said. Because of the condition of the school, Edward Little is on probation for accreditation, which doesn’t look good, he said. Plus, there are health and safety problems with the school. “We know we have to do something.”

Several citizens said they were concerned about the costs of including a pool at the high school ($5 million) and a 1,200-seat auditorium ($6.5 million).

Citizen Mike Ouellette said he couldn’t absorb hundreds of dollars more per year in higher property taxes. “I don’t know any other high school that has a pool,” he said.

If he were building a house he’d start with a budget, Ouellette said. “You’re not even starting with a budget.”

Committee members said the pool and a large auditorium were on a wish list.

In talking to people in town, City Councilor Leroy Walker said, “Everyone is afraid of where the price is going to be on this school.” He asked the committee to “save the gym and build from the gym back.”

Edward Little student Jake Bazinet said many things need to be improved at the school, including classrooms, bathrooms and floors. But a pool isn’t necessary. “It’s too late to add on Band-Aids,” Bazinet said. “We just need to start with something new, but we can’t start too big.”

Mark Johnston urged officials to “cast a wide net” when looking at how to pay for a new school, such as help from wealthy people, legislators and fundraising.

The committee will continue to meet to figure out what kind of school is needed, such as how much square footage.

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