BUCKLAND — The early Mohawk Trail Regional School District budget proposal generally triggers concerns of town Finance Committee members at the January School Committee meeting. But Wednesday night’s announcement of a mere 1 percent assessment hike for Mohawk towns brought surprise and appreciation from Shelburne Finance Committee member John Payne.
“If the assessment asked of the towns is (only) 1 percent, that’s a huge improvement — and with level services,” said Payne. “This year is the first time — rather than 6 percent or 8 percent — you’re coming out with 1 percent. We’re still all nervous about what our individual town’s assessment will be,” he added, “but 1 percent lowers the tempers immediately. I can’t speak for the Finance Committee, but my reaction after hearing this has changed the dynamics, in my mind.”
The Mohawk Trail Regional School District Committee will get a full budget presentation on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Mohawk. And the public budget hearing for the fiscal year 2019 budget is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. in Mohawk.
Superintendent Michael Buoniconti said the overall budget request calls for a nearly 2.5 percent budget hike, of about $484,558. But money from the district’s Excess and Deficiency account and regional transportation revolving account will be used to reduce the assessment increase to $109,772, which would be shared by the eight towns.
Buoniconti said the initial proposal reflected a $2 million (10.6 percent) budget increase, but the Budget Subcommittee and Mohawk administrators were able to reduce the number while retaining level services.
Buoniconti explained to new school board members that the budget proposal used to start with an optimal budget — which some town officials dubbed “a wish list” — that was eventually reduced, based on what towns could afford.
Buoniconti said the process now begins with what member towns can afford and builds on that.
Buoniconti said the district won’t know until late January what each member town’s assessment would be, because the state determines the “minimum required contribution” mandated of each town and city, based in part on the community’s relative wealth.