It's no secret that I have been skeptical about the rush to join the state-of-the-art $130 million regional vocational school.

Gloucester's share of the total bond cost on the debt according to the school's latest projections is a total of $5.39 million. Their schedule shows the city making debt payments until the year 2043.

The city carries just over $100 million long-term debt, more than $20 million in short-term debt, and another $20 million plus is in the queue to pay for upcoming required infrastructure work on the combined sewer overflow project, the Waste Water Treatment Plant, and work on the water system.

This week, my administration is asking City Council to authorize $6 million in borrowing to do upgrades on the Babson Water Treatment Plant and perform work on the water system.

Not included in these totals is any debt for financing the modernization of the elementary schools or any other municipal buildings.

The taxpayer feels the pinch of this debt burden in two ways: a) rising water and sewer rates, and fees, and b) reductions in city and school services.

In addition, Gloucester spends just over $1 million every single year in tuition on less than 60 students attending the regional vocational school. Since the size of the new school will accommodate more students, their projections also estimate enrollment from Gloucester almost doubling, which would double the annual tuition payments.

The Boston Globe just reported that Saugus, Wakefield, and Winthrop have pressured the state to force the vocational school serving their area to better control spending. Assessments have gone up on these communities in one year by 11 percent, 17 percent, and 14 percent, respectively. When revenues only increase by 3 percent at best, paying out a 17 percent increase in expenses means one thing: That's a cut somewhere else in the budget.

Some have said that I am being short-sighted or that I lack vision. What I know is that we live in a state that has a cap on the amount of revenue that can be raised through property taxes which is what mostly pays for these expenditures.

Where is the cap on expenses? There is no cap unless, through good government, we make choices about what to spend money on, and what not to spend money on.

No one has to explain the virtues of an outstanding vocational education to me. What I need an explanation on is: "Is it more important than modernizing the West Parish school?" "Is it more important than keeping class size down in the rest of the district?" "Is it more important than making the investments we need in our own municipal buildings and infrastructure?"

The vocational school debate is about choices under the premise that the taxpayer cannot afford to pay for everything that comes along and pay for all the things where there is no choice — such as our infrastructure.

To the School Committee's credit, it has established a task force to explore whether or not Gloucester High School's vocational program, which serves about 140 students, can be enhanced. I've asked the committee to imagine a competitive vocational program at Gloucester High School that is unique to Gloucester, and is aligned with the jobs and investments that we will be pursuing such as those in the maritime economy, the visitor-based economy, and the fishing industry.

There are alternatives to jumping on board the regional vocational school opportunity, and the savings could be used to fund enhancements to the local program.

Peer pressure from surrounding communities, and accusations of depriving children are bearing down on us as we debate whether or not to join the regional voke. I firmly believe we need to be grounded in Gloucester's fiscal reality, and have the political honesty to stand up and say, "this is more important than that."

I remain unconvinced that spending on the new regional voke rises to the top of the priority list.

Carolyn Kirk is mayor of the city of Gloucester.