Claremont
The budget carries an estimated tax rate impact of 46 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. With an additional 33 cents from three separate warrant articles and another 11 cents from a loss of state revenue, residents could face a tax rate increase of as much as 90 cents per $1,000, if everything is approved as proposed. That would equal a $135 increase in school taxes on a home assessed at $150,000.
“We are hoping taxpayers support this budget,” School Board Chairman Frank Sprague said. “We feel it is a responsible budget.”
Sprague said the board took a different approach to this year’s budget work when it created a subcommittee of board members who discussed spending priorities with SAU officials and principals.
“It was a team approach and was very smooth and quiet,” Sprague said, which is a contrast to the contentious and divisive budget process last year that saw several sharp exchanges between board members and then-Superintendent Middletown McGoodwin that appeared to have contributed to McGoodwin’s dismissal by the SAU 6 board in May. The SAU includes Unity.
In its presentation on Wednesday, the board said its goal was to keep the next fiscal year’s total tax rate increase to less than half of fixed cost increases (including salaries in approved contracts and higher costs for health and retirement benefits) and loss of state revenue — the two total about $814,000 and $100,000, respectively. The total increase impacting the tax rate comes in at $434,700, easily under the halfway mark. The budget as proposed would mean a 1.4 percent rise from the current operating budget of $31.5 million, which voters approved last year.
One of the ways the plan proposes holding down that increase is staff reductions that will save $633,000, though the plan also adds staff in certain areas.
In response to a question from a resident, Assistant Superintendent Cory LeClair said the goal of the administration is to make the reductions through attrition, retirement and reassignment to avoid layoffs.
Recommended staff additions are primarily for an alternative special education program at the elementary level that aims to keep students with behavioral issues in the district.
Board member Jason Benware explained that it is difficult to address these issues in a regular classroom setting and that out-of-district placement costs about $90,000 per student.
“It should improve the quality of learning for all kids in the school and also keep them (the special education students) closer to home and give them a better educational experience,” Benware said, noting that it is about a 90-minute bus ride each way for such placement students.
The proposal would add nine staff members for two classrooms serving a total of 12 students in the alternative special education program, but the projected savings in the first year are for only three students, who otherwise would cost a total of $270,000 for out-of-district placement.
“This is an investment that will help kids and help our community save money,” Benware said.
The default budget, which would take effect if the proposed budget is defeated by voters in March, is $31.6 million, or 5 percent more than this year’s, with an estimated tax rate impact of 21 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
