A brief update, now that the warrants for March are set.<\/p>\n
The proposed budget for the School District is up $3\/4 Million, of which over $400K is Special Education increases we can do nothing about.<\/p>\n
The budget is higher than the default by $269K.<\/p>\n
The cost is $1.51 per thousand of assessed value more in Newton, a bit less in Kingston…<\/p>\n
It does not include staff raises – which are separate warrants, that will cost another 50 cents increase. <\/p>\n
A $2 increase for next year, if everything passes. At least $1.27 if nothing passes.<\/p>\n
The taxes went down by $1 last year, and are back up more than that for next year.<\/p>\n
Is NKTA doing its job, to keep taxes down? Yes, we are.<\/p>\n
We have held them almost flat, even down this past year. We have found savings and reduced staffing over the past 4 years.<\/p>\n
Right now, the budget is pretty bare bones, until we do something about our 5 campuses for 1600 students. <\/p>\n
There is a warrant this year to change the language for the District Agreement, to remove the word elementary. NKTA urged a study last year by NESDEC on our facilities and declining enrollment…we knew the answer. The high costs are in the Middle School and the Elementary Schools. We spend $1.5 Million more than comparable Districts on our Elementary Schools! And we can’t do more, without harming education, until we pass this warrant article.<\/p>\n
We need to do a mailing, to help elect fiscally conservative candidates again this year –<\/p>\n
And to encourage votes to pass this warrant.<\/p>\n