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State Fiddles While School Funding Shrivels
Lonnie Brennan, Georgetown Selectman


Georgetown Selectman Lonnie Brennan   Budget season is upon us. Make the sound with me: ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching. That’s the sound of the potential impact on our future tax bills (think override requests) if nothing changes.

First ‘ka-ching’: our School Committee members have begun their search for a new superintendent. They’ve looked at the salary ($116,000+) paid to our 16-year veteran and decided it’s just too low for a new guy or gal they hope to hire this spring, so they’ve set the bottom line at no less than $135,000 (and numbers have been floated in the $142,000 range or more for a newbie). That is, of course, before any benefits and other provisions which come with the top-dog position of a school system that has three buildings and approximately 400 kids in the entire high school.

Oh, and did I mention that there’s some talk about possibly lowering the credential requirements for the new hire? So let’s see, there’s a possibility that we could pay more and get less?

Only one member of the School Committee, Don Cudmore, bucked the trend and voted against the recommendation of the hiring consultant (did I mention they’re using a consultant?) and suggested that this whole idea of setting an initial salary higher than the current experienced superintendent, and trying to ‘compete’ with others in an unknown race to find the best and brightest, could use a little more discussion. While the team is indeed eager to move forward with the hiring process, ‘Cuddos’ to Cudmore for asking the challenging questions are in order.

Another ‘ka-ching’: the initial requested increase of $1,901,624, or 18.66%, to next year’s school budget.

That’s a lot to swallow in one year. A year in which the state continues to leave Georgetown as well as many other communities in our district short-changed in local aid funding. For those counting, most cities and towns in our district are still limping along with aid numbers that are 5% or more below the levels they were receiving before the big dig and out-of-control state spending stole our state aid away.

Funny term, ‘aid.’ Makes it seem like the state is being kind to the cities and towns. In reality the state takes our income taxes, our sales taxes, our meals taxes (on every cup of coffee, on every ice cream cone, on every dinner, on every pizza, on every take-out order) and spends it on whatever it wants, and trickles back a small percentage to our town and to our schools.

So, getting back to the 18.66% increase, it includes a lot of things, most designed to provide our students with the best education possible and to meet the shortcomings noted in the New England Association of Schools & Colleges, Inc.’s Commission on Public Secondary Schools accreditation report rendered onto the school system in October of 2006. While the commendation list was long and heartfelt, the concerns list was almost as long and led to the Georgetown school system being placed on a warning status.

Some of the items which resulted in the warning include: insufficient number of desks, insufficient parking, use of the stage area as a teaching station, limited access to computers, close proximity of the gymnasium bleachers to the playing area, lack of a regular allocation of capital funds to purchase new equipment, failure of the budget to keep pace with increases in enrollment, and increasing class sizes, amongst others.

One would expect that it’s a relatively easy process to address the technology and facility concerns with sound budget processes and the support of various town boards to set priorities and regular maintenance and upgrade schedules, but it’s the increasing class sizes that really need attention. As the budget process unfolds, more will be learned and one would hope that some of the proposed expenditures will be funded through a portion of currently available free cash to ensure a safe school environment with adequate basics such as furniture and equipment.

But an 18.66% increase? As we enter a new year (another loop around the sun), our new governor has pledged to restore any and all cuts in state spending vetoed by former governor Romney. Not one cent can be cut from state spending. Indeed, Mr. Patrick has even wasted no time in proposing new taxes (local meals tax) to drain more money from the taxpayers. But wait: have you heard anything about restoring cuts in local aid to cities and towns? Thought not. Stay hopeful, though.
Work Off Your Taxes

On a similar note, our local ‘work-off-your-taxes program’ is getting renewed attention. Run by the Council on Aging, this first-come, first-serve program allows senior citizens to work for the town doing clerical and other work, in exchange for a reduction on their tax bills up to $500 each year. The fund is currently limited to just 10 seniors, and the demand appears to have spiked recently and may warrant a new look at that 10 person cap.
Bridge to Nowhere

The much-debated Bailey Lane Bridge remains closed to all since the fall, due to reported structural defects and decay. Plans are underway to re-open the roadway to ensure the safety of the local residents, but funding sources have yet to be identified as this column went to press.

Georgetown Today Media

Updates of events and items and links of interest can always be found on www.GeorgetownToday.com. It’s a freebie site so just send your posting along. Most budget items will eventually make their way onto the site, so let’s hope we can get through our budget process this year as neighbors and friends, respectful of one another, with a watchful eye and a careful ear, allowing for the inputs of others and the dissention of many.

Lonnie Brennan is a selectman in Georgetown, you can email him at lonnie@thechocolatecellar.com.



 
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The January 2007 Edition of the Valley Patriot
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All Contents (C) 2007
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