Hopkinton voters please attend our school district meeting, now scheduled for March 28. Many people have questions about the proposed school budget; there is a lot of misinformation floating around.
The new operating budget includes the first payment on the facilities bond (approved by 78% of voters at last year’s meeting) and increases at slightly over the rate of inflation. Warrant articles include the teachers’ contract, which is designed to save money in the long run by having teachers pay a portion of health insurance. The other articles include the normal capital reserve (savings) funds and the contingency fund (returned to taxpayers if not used). The tax impact for the average home is a little over $40 per month.
A proposal being made to level-fund the operating budget would actually be a cut as it doesn’t consider the bond payment. With mostly fixed costs in the budget (special ed, transportation, operating expenses), further reductions come right out of staff, programming and enrichment activities. Due to mandates at the lower grades, the staff cuts would mostly affect the quality of our high school.
Please do your own research; there is complete information at HopkintonSchools.org. Hope to see you March 28.
STEVEN REDDY Sr.
Contoocook