HAWLEY — Town meeting voters have approved a budget decrease, as well as changes to the Mohawk Trail Regional School District agreement that would enable Rowe to join the district and Heath to close its elementary school and tuition its students to Hawlemont.
The decisions were made during Hawley’s annual town meeting, which was attended by 24 of the town’s 271 voters Monday night and lasted less than 20 minutes. The proposed $975,898 budget was approved unanimously, and represents a 3 percent decrease over the current $978,757 budget.
The decrease comes primarily from Hawley’s cost for vocational education, which is projected to drop from $100,000 this year to $45,000 in the coming year, though there are some spending increases in the town budget.
Three articles on the meeting warrant for changes to the school district agreement were consolidated into one vote, which won unanimous approval. All eight Mohawk member towns will vote on articles that would make it possible for Heath to close its elementary school building and tuition its children to the Hawlemont Regional School.
Mohawk officials believe the move would save the Mohawk school district about $1 million over the next five years, with the savings to increase after Mohawk has finished paying off a $240,000 lease termination settlement to Heath.
“Of all the towns, Hawley and Charlemont have the greatest vested interest in this,” Hawlemont and Mohawk Trail Regional School District Superintendent Michael Buoniconti said during the meeting.
The articles have passed in every town so far — except for Charlemont, which was also set to vote Monday night.
“This adds stability in terms of enrollment and financial stability over time,” Buoniconti said, as Hawlemont would add additional students and revenue that is not dependent upon School Choice.
The article about adding Rowe to the district was nearly the same as what Hawley voters approved last year.
“We voted this last year, but because of some uncertainties with the town of Rowe that they wanted to clarify, they didn’t end up voting in time for them to start this year,” said Suzanne Crawford, Hawley representative to the Mohawk School Committee.
Voters unanimously approved the rest of the warrant’s 23 articles, including the largest spending request — $30,000 of the town’s “free cash” reserves to make next year’s required payment for the purchase of the used fire pumper truck and a one-ton truck.