State hopes to have school budget for Spencer-East Brookfield before Thanksgiving
By Kim Ring, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
SPENCER — Officials from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education have told the town they will work to set a school budget figure before Dec. 1.
Town Administrator Adam Gaudette told selectmen on Monday he has heard from the education officials after asking them to set a figure as soon as possible.
"They're shooting for a decision before Thanksgiving," he said.
East Brookfield selectmen said Monday they expect the state budget by Nov. 18.
Mr. Gaudette said he is preparing a presentation for the education department so officials there will have a better idea of the impact budget figures would have on the town. He said he has been reading up on state takeovers of school districts and learned that the state will look at "from the town's standpoint its 'fiscal capacity' and what is our ability to meet the figure set forth from the district."
He said he feels confident that in setting the budget, the state will also be aware that voters have turned down overrides to fund the schools and voted for a reduced dollar amount at the regional district meeting and that a majority of the school committee — though not the "super majority" that would be needed — agreed to pass the lower figure offered at the meeting.
Mr. Gaudette said he is reworking the budget and will have cuts ready for the Dec. 5 special town meeting, during which voters will deal with changes to the current year's budget to accommodate the schools.
Town Administrator Adam Gaudette told selectmen on Monday he has heard from the education officials after asking them to set a figure as soon as possible.
"They're shooting for a decision before Thanksgiving," he said.
East Brookfield selectmen said Monday they expect the state budget by Nov. 18.
Mr. Gaudette said he is preparing a presentation for the education department so officials there will have a better idea of the impact budget figures would have on the town. He said he has been reading up on state takeovers of school districts and learned that the state will look at "from the town's standpoint its 'fiscal capacity' and what is our ability to meet the figure set forth from the district."
He said he feels confident that in setting the budget, the state will also be aware that voters have turned down overrides to fund the schools and voted for a reduced dollar amount at the regional district meeting and that a majority of the school committee — though not the "super majority" that would be needed — agreed to pass the lower figure offered at the meeting.
Mr. Gaudette said he is reworking the budget and will have cuts ready for the Dec. 5 special town meeting, during which voters will deal with changes to the current year's budget to accommodate the schools.
what is a "super majority"?
ReplyDeleteA supermajority is absolute if the required percentage or fracional is based on the entire membership rather than those present and voting.
ReplyDeleteFractional supermajorities
Amajority is a potentially ambiguous supermajoritarian requirement.There are two kinds of supermajority : the simple ( based on those present) or the absolute ( based on those qualified to vote)Clairity is required over voter qualification and also what is done about absenttions." copy"
I am looking forward to see how this plays out. We will see who gains from calling in the "state". At least we will know what to expect should the town be in this position down the road. Bev.
DeleteI think in this case of school funding a "super majority" for the Narragansett Regional School Committee would be nine votes in the affirmative…even though there are only eight members.
ReplyDeleteI think mrs. Farrell should double up on her psychotic medication because obviously you can not move on and get over anything...truth by truth for the townspeople of templeton
ReplyDeletethe truth. Don't you know a joke when you read one??? Gee, maybe it is you who can't move on. Did you ever think about that ? Bev.
DeleteTruthy,
ReplyDeleteGlad you are back from your trip to Saint Louis. How about those Red Sox!
Vote Mitchell for Selectman!
Ask every candidate running for BOS if they support the nuclear option to fund the schools.
the truth is, Templeton now gets to see what happens when the state comes in to set a school budget, no scare tactics no the school will get what it wants. we now gets to see how they be rollin in da hood at dese. Peeps in Templeton now have a blue print to run da game on school stickup on da town..........did the teaches of narragannsett get a 4% pay raise on they contract this fall? how we be payin fo dat?
ReplyDelete