Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
|
Goffstown school proposal up 1% |
||
|
• Still to come: Figure does not include labor negotiations that are now under way.
GOFFSTOWN --- 11/09/06: The school board is recommending a budget for next year that would increase current spending by less than one percent, members said in interviews yesterday. The board is proposing a total budget of $33.3 million, an increase of about $120,000, or one cent on the tax rate, according to data provided by Superintendent Darrell Lockwood. School board members said they were pleased with the results and even see room for more improvement. "Even with the budget being putting forth, the school district will continue to explore ways to more effectively and efficiently provide a quality education to the children of Goffstown, "said chairman Keith Allard. |
The school portion of the 2006 tax rate is $12.35 per thousand in property value. Assuming voters approve the recommended appropriations, a new yax rate of $12.36 would generate $2,472 on a house valued at $200,000. The change from the current to the upcoming academic year contrasts to the 92 cent jump between the previous year and the current one. One reason for the difference, according to school board member Scott Gross, is the new kindergarten that opened this year. Gross pointed to a number of non-discretionary areas where spending is on the rise for next year: $260,000 more into the state retirement system, $43,000 for heating oil, about $40,000 for regular and special education transportation, and $343,000 for tuition to send some special education students to out-of-district schools. But the district will also be spending $400,000 less than initially anticipated on health insurance this year, thanks to new rates released about a week ago by the Local Government Center.
|
The budget does have the
following new positions: an earth science teacher at the high school and
one more person on the maintenance staff for the district. Once
again, however, the district has been able to save money because it did
not need to hire one more teacher and one teaching assistant planned for
the kindergarten.
"We're looking to reallocate and shift our resources rather than adding additional expenses," Gross said. What is being hailed by board members as good news for taxpayers comes with one caveat: The numbers as they now stand do not include any potential increases that may result from the ongoing contract negotiations between the district and two union - the teachers association and the teacher assistants. Those contracts will appear separately on the ballot next March if a settlement has been reached in time, school officials said.
|
Reproduced by the Goffstown Residents Association.
