from the Worc Telegam sent by Jeff B

An interesting piece from the Worcester Telegram concerning school spending and the dilemma towns face with limited fund raising under prop 2 1/2.

DUDLEY — A legislative bill that seeks to cap at 2-1/2 percent annual increases in municipalities’ school assessments has garnered buzz at the Statehouse and debate among municipal and school officials.

“There is a limit on raising revenue, there has to be a limit on spending. Can we at least agree on that?” Dudley Selectman Jonathan Ruda said to the 20 school and town officials from Dudley and Charlton at the Pearle L. Crawford Memorial Library Thursday.

The bill was initiated by the Dudley Board of Selectmen and filed by state Rep. Peter J. Durant, R-Spencer, and co-sponsored by state Rep. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, in late March.

“The way I look at this bill, is it’s an opportunity to put together something that’s extremely simple to deal with an extremely complex subject,” Mr. Durant said Thursday. “It has garnered some buzz on Beacon Hill and that’s always a good thing.”

If enacted as written, the legislation would force school systems and regional school districts statewide to operate within the same budget constraints as the municipalities they serve.

Mr. Ruda proposed the act to limit education increases by the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District and Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School, which are outpacing the town’s ability to raise new revenue under the limits imposed by Proposition 2-1/2.

It seeks to amend Chapter 70, which is the state law that determines the annual amount each municipality is to contribute to its public education.

“I think there are holes in Chapter 70 that hurt the schools and the municipal side. We propose to begin a conversation about a formula that is clearly unsustainable for Charlton and Dudley alike,” Mr. Ruda said.

Mr. Ruda emphasized that the proposal is anti-Chapter 70, not anti-education.

“It’s hard to believe that anything that would limit growth in schools beyond 2-1/2 percent isn’t anti-education,” Dudley-Charlton Superintendent Sean M. Gilrein said. “Perhaps the greater conservation is something that is sustainable and workable for all 340 communities.”

Mr. Gilrein said portions of the Chapter 70 formula are flawed and should be re-evaluated, but the method sought by Mr. Durant’s bill is counter-productive.

School and town officials pointed to the Chapter 70 wealth formula, introduced about seven years ago, as one flaw and a root problem for many communities.

The wealth formula considers a town’s property value and its residents’ aggregate income to set a target amount towns and cities are to contribute to education.

Dudley and Charlton are among 110 municipalities in the state that contribute less than their target. Therefore, the state has assessed a “catch-up” amount the past few years to narrow the gap.

Selectman Peter E. Fox said Dudley cannot sustain its financial commitments the way it’s structured today.

“We want to work with everybody but if you really take a hard look at the financial situation, we are in serious trouble and we’re hoping this concept will balance it out a little bit. If this bill does nothing but create debate, it’s a first step.”

If it is enacted, schools seeking an increase greater than 2-1/2 from their municipality would be required to conduct a Proposition 2-1/2 override election.

Mr. Durant said a regional school district would need approval from a majority of its member towns to approve the override, while a tie would defeat the measure.

Dudley selectmen have received letters of support for the bill from several towns.

Charlton Selectman Kathleen W. Walker said she was in favor at first but has since reconsidered.

“To me it’s a punitive measure. The cuts that have been made over the last few years are onerous and we’re talking about doing more of the same to the schools,” she said, referring to recent staff cuts in the Dudley-Charlton schools.

Mr. Durant said the bill has started its Statehouse journey and will go to Education Committee hearings.