HOLDEN BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REGIONAL MEETING MINUTES
DISCUSSION OF WACHUSETT REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT ASSESSMENT FY2013
APRIL 3, 2012
6:30PM Senior Center
Present: Chairman Robert Lavigne, Kenneth O’Brien, Anthony Renzoni,
James Jumonville, Kenneth Lipka
Others Present: Nancy Galkowski, Town Manager
Jacquie Kelly, Assistant Town Manager,
Elizabeth Helder, Recording Secretary
Regional Members Present: Duncan Leith, Peter Brennan, Tom Pandiscio, Stacey Jackson, Peter Litsky, Mike Pantos, R. Remillard, Al Berg, Teri Ackerman, Karl Makela, Peter Bogren, Bill Trotter, Don Mancini, Phil Mighdoll, Stan Moss, Margaret Watson, Deidre Kosky, Dawn Torres-Gale, Steve Hammond, Julianne Kelley, Russell Philpot, John Lebeaux, Sheila Dibb, Larry Papa, Joe Becker, Jack Malone, Joe Dolak, Senator Stephen Brewer, Senator Harriet Chandler, Representative Kimberly Ferguson, and Senator Jennifer Flanagan
Chairman Lavigne opened the meeting at 7PM.
Introductions/Purpose of the Meeting
Chairman Lavigne said that the region needed to find a productive way to build a bridge between the School District and the Towns regarding the town and school budget. A collaborative approach based on respect and data must be found. He commented that we are all living in a new world order where there is no more stimulus money and schools and towns are in a financial crisis. He asked that everyone be respectful and productive and keep comments to four minutes or less. If participants cannot keep an open mind and have open dialogue he asked that they leave the meeting. He stressed the need to find common ground.
WRSD Budget Presentation – Dr. Thomas Pandiscio
Dr. Pandiscio presented a power point presentation which discussed the inadequacy of the foundation which has not kept up with inflation, the fact that the WRSD spends the least actual per pupil in the State, fixed vs. discretionary costs, potential savings with teacher reductions,
Legislator’s Perspective on State Commitment to Current and Future Regional Education Funding.
Senator Stephan Brewer, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means presented a power point presentation on the State Budget for FY12 and FY13. He agreed with Dr. Pandiscio’s comments regarding the foundation inadequacies. He said the State Senate was working on correcting these inadequacies. He said the legislature would fully fund local funding despite projected decreases in tax revenues, and increases in health care costs. Senator Flanagan said discretionary funding would be slim this year due to decreases in income tax and corporate tax rates. Representative Ferguson said that all the Senators and Representatives are advocating for their Towns and Districts by getting the maximum dollars. However, there is a revenue shortfall. She said that she hoped to gain consensus for a possible
80% regional transportation funding.
Senator Chandler said that April is the highest tax collection month for the State and when the Senate debates the budget in May, there may be more money for more lee-way to increase the regional transportation budget. Rutland BOS Chairman Joe Becker said he had heard that regional school transportation money was going to go away. He asked if this was true. Senator Brewer said that it was collective challenge to partially fund this fund.
Town’s Financial Situations
Representatives from the five District Towns presented financial statements.
Holden Town Manager, Nancy Galkowski said that everyone in the room supports the school system. However, supporting the School District’s budget will jeopardize the services offered to residents in Holden. There are limited resources to maintain Town services and school services; there has to be a middle ground that supports both. The Town cannot afford such a dramatic increase (1.2M) in one year. A 3M+ increase in the District budget is unattainable. The Town and the District must work together to solve the problem.
Paxton Finance Committee Chairman Richard Fenton said that the FY13 budget is level funded or below FY12 and that was before receiving the District FY13 assessment. The Town will have to go for over $300,000 override to support the District’s request.
Princeton Board of Selectmen member Stan Moss reported that the last time the Town of Princeton bought a new vehicle was 17 years ago.
Rutland Board of Selectmen Chairman Joe Becker stated that the bulk of the problem cannot realistically be solved by the people sitting in the room. The State needs to come up with a long term solution. He shared a similar comparison of the Town of Rutland’s budget to the School District’s budget. In order to fund Rutland’s District assessment of 1.2M dollars would result in drastic, devastating cuts to the Town budget. The average tax payer would expect to see over a $600 increase in their real estate taxes. He said that it will be up to the residents to decide to approve the override at the ballot.
Sterling Board of Selectman Chairman Russell Philpot said the Town of Sterling did not have good news either. The only thing they have less of is money. State aid and local receipts are flat and there no money and isn’t not going to satisfy the request of the District. The Town needs to balance the needs of the children and the needs of its senior citizens. The Finance Committee has a standard request to cut budgets by 10%. He concurred with Mr. Becker that a decision will not be found by the people or efforts in the room. It’s like squeezing water from a stone. Help must be found at the State level.
Discussion of Possible Solutions
Chairman Lavigne stated that Dr. Pandiscio submitted a $79.3M budget to the School Committee who then approved the budget at $80.3M. Chairman Lavigne said he felt that there was already 1M in cuts that could save the Town’s significant savings if the School Committee would agree to support
Dr. Pandiscio’s original budget of $79.3M.
Duncan Leith, Chairman of the School Committee, said that the School Committee did not have a quorum and was not in a position to negotiate any cuts. He said he was interested in creating a task force to discuss with other regional towns how they are funding their budgets over and above the Wachusett District’s per pupil spending.
Dawn Torres-Gale said she was the dissenting vote on the School Committee’s 17-1 approval of the increased budget. She felt that the late bus line item and internet wiring line item could be eliminated from the District’s budget.
Stan Moss said he thought a Wachusett School District Task Force should investigate how other School Districts fund their budgets.
Alan Berg, Holden Finance Committee Chair said that Holden is already anticipating a structural deficit reaching $500,000 by 2017 in addition to the $1.2M assessment by the District. He said it was unrealistic that an agreement between the District and member Town’s will be reached in 50-days when Town Meetings are scheduled.
Margaret Watson suggested an unsolicited solution. She suggested a trade-off: The District pays an electric fee to the Town of Holden for electricity. She suggested that a lower electric and water/sewer rate be offered to the District to offset the assessment. Mr. Philpot said that the Town of Sterling used to offer this lower rate to the District. The solution is a slight of hand – the cost will ultimately have to be assumed by the ratepayers in their bills. The Light Department Board of Director’s recently reversed the rate to a more competitive rate for the District. Mr. Becker from Rutland said that the only compromise the Town could make was with water/sewer rates. However, he applauded the “think outside the box” suggestion.
Sel. O’Brien asked Dr. Pandiscio to explain what a reduction of 51 teachers would mean to the District. Dr. Pandiscio said he could not fathom that type of cut because it is so unthinkable to him. 25 teachers would come from the high school after the elimination of athletics and activities.
Sel. Renzoni asked for a breakdown of the $10,800 per student spending. Where does that money go? He concurred with comments by Chairman Lavigne of the willingness of all involved to reach a solution. He said he appreciated everyone’s willingness to go home and come up with other funding options.
Dawn Torres-Gale asked if there was an interest in a public-private partnership. She asked the task force to consider this option.
John Lebeaux, Princeton’s Town Administrator, said that it’s not that the District’s Towns won’t support the School Budget; it’s that they can’t. The only way the District budget can be supported is on the backs of the taxpayers.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:08PM.
APPROVED: April 17, 2012
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