Deliberative sessions are all about local control but it was state actions and their effect on property taxes that dominated much of Wednesday’s discussion for voters in the Weare School District.

A petitioned warrant article to cap per-pupil spending in the district and another petitioned article asking for “accountability, transparency and a sustainable funding plan” regarding the vouchers known as Education Freedom Accounts occupied a large part of the three-hour meeting.

Kate Bloom was among the petitioners for an article to cap future spending by the district at $24,767 per pupil, slightly above the current rate, plus annual increases linked to a cost of living index. She argued that something needs to be done to limit increases in school taxes.

“While decreased state funding to Weare does shift more of the cost to local taxpayers, this issue is compounded when schools continue to spend at ever-increasing rates. Without a budget cap, the local taxpayer will be forced to pay for decreased state funding and the uncapped spending increases,” she said. “More state spending … will simply subsidize costs that are excessive.”

An amendment to raise the amount to $50,000, which would have effectively nullified the article, failed.

Like all the proposed warrant articles, it will go on the ballot March 11 as written. Voting will take place at the Middle School from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A number of school districts in the state have seen similar budget cap proposals which have faced varied results. Epsom School District voters, for example, raised the limit to $100,000 at their deliberative session.

Marjorie Burke was one of several speakers who said the cap would “tie the hands” of the local school board when faced with unavoidable cost increases such as transportation, health insurance and special education. “Much of the budget costs the board presents are out of their control, beginning with the state legislature that does not see fit to honor their constitutional obligation to adequately fund public education,” she said.

State actions were central to another petitioned article targeting vouchers, which asked voters to “call on our state elected officials to … reject any expansion of taxpayer funding for private education until we have full accountability, transparency and a sustainable funding plan that ensures no further strain on … local property taxpayers.”

The 3-year-old school voucher program gives taxpayer dollars to families to help pay for private, religious and homeschooling.  It is currently limited to families with income less than 350% of the federal poverty level, equivalent to $109,200, but the GOP-led legislature is considering removing all income limits.

David Trumble, one of the petitioners, said that unlike public schools the voucher program does not provide any details about how it spends the money from taxpayers or what educational goals it meets. “We’re just asking for accountability,” he said.

Speaking against the article, Lea Cushman said she thought it was “a deflection aimed at school choice” designed “to keep kids in public school even when it’s not the best option for them.”

A proposal to amend the article and turn it into a short version asking only that legislators study public and private school funding was defeated.

No changes were made to the budget or a contract for support staff.

The proposed operating budget for the next fiscal year starting July 1 is $20.45 million, which is $838,347, or 4.27%, higher than the budget approved a year ago.

A proposed two-year contract for the school support staff would include various increases in salary, longevity payments and differential for intensive care. Officials say the projected average salary increase for paraprofessionals would be $2,557 in year one and $1,887 in year two. The staff does not get any insurance or retirement.

If the budget and contract are approved, the local school tax rate would rise from $8.67 to $9.93 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, adding $504 to the annual tax bill of a $400,000 home.

Enrollment in the district, covering Center Wood Elementary and Weare Middle schools, was 840 on Oct. 1.

One unusual aspect of the meeting is that the school moderator had resigned, leaving it without a leader. Neal Kurk, a longtime state representative who did not seek re-election after 16 terms in Concord, stepped up and took on the role.