When it comes to deciding whether to finance a multi-million dollar new school project, Tisbury selectmen are leaving it up to the town.

At their meeting Tuesday night, selectmen declined to add their explicit support or sponsorship to the proposed project.

The town will vote whether to fund the new school at the annual town meeting on April 10. A two thirds majority at town meeting and a simple majority of ballot votes is required for the project to go forward.

The warrant article does not need formal sponsorship or support from selectmen to be considered, but the item was included on the selectmen’s agenda Tuesday evening at the request of chairman Larry Gomez.

“The board of selectmen has not yet made a decision or approval or disapproval of the new school,” he said. “I thought we needed to do that to show the town what our thoughts are at town meeting so they know where we all stand.”

He added that he thought the board should sponsor the warrant article. The article is already jointly sponsored by the Tisbury school building committee and the Tisbury school committee.

Selectman Tristan Israel said he does not support the project.

“I would just as soon take no action. Let the school committee present as planned to town meeting,” he said. He later added, “This [proposed project] is going to put an enormous strain on the town, number one. And number two, there are many working people here — including teachers — who can’t find housing here.”

He said the tax increase that would come with the project would make the town less affordable. A property valued at $500,000 would see an annual tax increase of about $541.

Construction of the new school is expected to cost almost $46.6 million and has an estimated completion date of August 2021. Last month, the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) officially approved the project, which means the state will cover about 44 per cent of construction costs if the item passes at town meeting. That leaves the town responsible for about $32 million.

The school building committee has worked with the MSBA since 2015. In order to qualify for MSBA funding, the school plan has had to adhere to specific standards. For example, the MSBA requires that classrooms be at least 900 square feet. Though the new school is designed for 285 students, the proposed building would be much larger than the current one. Enrollment was at 307 as of October of last year.

“I’ve been ambivalent about the process from the beginning because it forces the town eventually to just present one option, and we’ve been stuck with that process,” said selectman Melinda Loberg, who serves on the school building committee. “I think we ought to step back and let the town make a decision,” she said. She added that she thought it would be appropriate for the school committee to sponsor the article at town meeting.

Though selectmen decided not to formally endorse the project Tuesday night, they have voted to approve other milestones throughout the process with the MSBA. They have also approved the town meeting warrant including the school building proposal.

Tisbury school principal John Custer attended the meeting and spoke up.

“At several points through the process in partnering with the MSBA, selectmen did vote to continue the process,” he said. “We’ve chosen this process, and the selectmen have been supportive of that.”

Seeing a lack of enthusiasm from his fellow selectmen, Mr. Gomez ultimately did not make a motion to sponsor the warrant article.

“I trust the town people to know what they want,” Ms. Loberg said.

In other business, selectmen discussed the search process for the new police chief. Chief Dan Hanavan has announced he will retire some time this year. Selectmen reviewed a proposal from the Strategic Policy Partnership LLC, headed by West Tisbury resident Robert Wasserman that suggests transitioning to temporary leadership before finding a permanent chief. Services would include drafting a job description, organizing community focus groups, and searching for candidates. In the proposal, the firm estimates their services would cost the town $7,760 including travel fees.

Selectmen also reviewed a draft letter from town administrator Jay Grande to Gov. Charlie Baker and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation regarding proposed improvements to the Beach Road corridor.

“It really is getting at a general frustration with the board with certain aspects of the project that still remain in question, particularly stormwater management or runoff... and concern that the plan is not truly addressing sea level,” Mr. Grande told the board.

Selectmen also appointed Charlie Duquette as a special police officer.