Hartford
“Six positions,” said School Board member Michelle Boleski, who spoke of the need to invest in education shortly before voting in favor of the $38,157,440 budget. “I can’t help but think those are six human beings that interact with our students.”
The budget, which will come before March Town Meeting voters, represents a spending increase of 2 percent over the current $37.4 million budget, but it would result in a projected 7.6 percent increase in the school property tax rate.
The board decided a previously contemplated $37.8 million budget, which would have resulted in a 6 percent tax hike, would be too damaging to the school’s programs.
“I know people are going to be hollering and screaming,” School Board member Nancy Russell said, “but I am looking at these kids and their needs are greater.”
Peter Merrill, Russell and Boleski voted in favor, while Chairman Kevin Christie and Lori Dickerson voted against. Dickerson said she supports building strong educational programs, but Hartford taxpayers simply can’t afford it.
“I can’t vote for that,” she said. “I have too many people who say, ‘We are hurting.’ ”
Superintendent Tom DeBalsi said that as the district’s student population has shrunk over the last several years, the district has shed more than 20 teachers, to a current teacher workforce of 221, to keep pace. School officials have pursued a strategy of mitigating the statewide trend in declining enrollment numbers by making the district more attractive to families from communities with school choice.
At the beginning of the discussion, Hartford resident Russ North, who has announced his intention to run for a seat on the School Board in March, introduced the idea by asking members to consider the higher amount, which he said would not make a significant difference to the average taxpayer.
“I’m going to be aggravated by either increase, so I’d rather have an increase that fully, or at least adequately, supports our school system. It’s making some substantial progress and I think it sends the wrong message to … people who may be considering us for tuition students, if we don’t go forth with a fully funded budget,” North said.
Fixed cost increases include more than $500,000 for recently negotiated teacher, administrator and staff contracts, combined with teacher step increases. There also are nearly $400,000 in increased special education and psychological services costs.
Health care and energy savings partially offset some fixed cost increases, but changes in Hartford’s property values, combined with a $50 million statewide education funding gap, have reduced state and federal revenues to Hartford such that even if school district spending remained flat, area taxpayers would still see an increase of 5.6 percent, according to Finance Director Jim Vezina.
The majority of Hartford taxpayers pay education taxes under Vermont’s income sensitivity program; they would see a 1.9 percent increase to their out-of-pocket costs.
For those who pay based on home value, the school tax rate is currently $1.58 per $100 of assessed property value. Under the new budget, for a home assessed at $250,000, an increase of 7.6 percent would increase the bill by $300, to $4,250.
If it passes muster with Town Meeting Day voters on March 6, the budget will increase the district’s per-pupil cost by $230, or 1.8 percent, to $16,152 per student. Residents will have a chance to weigh in on the proposal during a budget discussion and candidates night scheduled for Feb. 26.
Matt Hongoltz-Hetling can be reached at mhonghet@vnews.com or 603-727-3211.