BUCKLAND — “Start from where you are” was the budgeting advice town officials gave Mohawk Trail Regional School Committee Vice Chairwoman Martha Thurber this week, at a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee and the school representative in planning for next year’s budget.
Selectmen’s Chairman Rob Riggan pointed out that the town’s tax rate has risen by 6 percent this year — from $16.90 per $1,000 valuation of $18.05, and represents a $230 annual increase for the average home owner. Also, the town cut its own budget last spring, to accommodate a $120,529 Mohawk assessment increase.
Selectmen said there are town projects that cannot be put off and debt exclusion payments coming for the highway garage and Tropical Storm Irene repairs.
“There needs to be savings this year on the (school) budget, with at least no increases,” said Karen Blom, Finance Committee chairwoman. “This year, I would like to start at zero increase and see what we can do with that, rather than starting with a 10 percent increase and working down,” Blom said.
Alluding to the traditional budgeting process, in which school districts first propose an optimal budget and then reduce it during negotiations with the towns, Blom said her request “is just flipping the paradigm.”
“Approach it by a zero-based start, with what you got last year,” said Selectman Dena Willmore. “And see if you can do with what you had last year. I think (the town) has scrimped too much in recent years.”
Town officials also hope the school district may be able to reduce town assessments with savings that might result if Heath tuitions its elementary students to another school instead of operating the Heath Elementary School with too few students. School officials believe that closing the Heath school building would result in savings of about $500,000.