With the bulk of the Merrimack Station valuation case refund behind the town of Bow, it seems like calmer waters might be ahead for the Bow school district. Unlike last year, there’s little contention between the budget committee and the school board on the operating budget.
Hot topic: If there is going to be any discussion, it will likely be around the school district’s $28 million operating budget, a decrease of $59,679 from last year. Revenue would increase by 8.25 percent, which is mostly made up of a $176,783 increase in tuition and a $147,282 increase in “other local sources.”
While some line items would see sincere reductions – mostly in the supplies category – the areas that typically take up the biggest chunk of the budget, employees’ wages and salaries, are increasing very little. The total cost for regular education is increasing by 0.57 percent for a total budget of $11.9 million and the total cost of special education is decreasing by 0.54 percent for a budget of $5.1 million.
If approved, the tax rate will stay the same.
Noteworthy articles: Article 3 would take $51,072 and put into the AREA School Capital Improvements – Dunbarton Fees Capital Reserve Fund established in 2014. The money would come from the 2017-18 school year tuition payments from the Dunbarton school district. Putting a portion of the tuition payments into the fund is part of the Bow-Dunbarton AREA agreement.
Another article would take $28,000 raised from student activity fees over the 2018-19 school year and put it into the Athletic Field and Facilities Capital Reserve Fund established in March 2016.
The last article would take $28,950 from the Bow High School Capital Reserve Fund and use it to purchase a new public address system, acoustic ceiling tile upgrades and front office renovations at Bow High School.
When and where: The town meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Bow High School.