A petition aiming to get Canterbury out of the Shaker Regional School District failed to make it on the ballot, leaving voters with more straightforward issues like ongoing downshifting from the state that’s being passed on to taxpayers.
While local tax rates are proposed to increase to raise another $400,000 in school spending next year, the state education tax rate is projected to decrease by about 30%. In addition, mandated increases to the state retirement system for the district’s employees will cost another $94,000 next year.
“It’s a shift from the state to the local taxpayer,” Superintendent Michael Tursi said Thursday, the day after the district’s annual deliberative session. “Loss of revenue from the state comes out of the pocket of the local taxpayer.”
Wednesday’s meeting, where residents declined to make changes to the four main questions on the warrant, including the $26.7 million proposed budget, lasted exactly 22 minutes.
This year’s budget includes contracted salary increases for teachers and raises for support staff, like custodians, secretaries and education aides, who are often paid the least among school employees.
The district, like other schools and even businesses is struggling to recruit and retain employees, who can often make more money elsewhere.
“That’s mostly because of the market. There’s money to be made out there,” Tursi said. “People are tending to move around more than they would in the past.”
On voting day, March 8, residents in Belmont and Canterbury will be asked to transfer money into funds for IT and school and grounds expenses. Voters will also be asked if the district may hold onto unspent funds up to 5% of the districts net assessment.
The default budget is $26.2 million, which is basically the same as this year.