Tomorrow is (town & school) election day in New Hampshire. In Keene, the voters have the option of supporting a bigger budget or an even bigger budget. If voters reject the proposed $62.3 million budget (an increase of 1.2%) for the 2013-2014 school year, the budget will be just shy of $63.5 million (a nearly 3% increase).
How’s that for choice? The school portion of the property tax rate will increase by either 5% or 10% depending on the will of the voters who show up and cast a ballot.
Voters will also cast a vote on 6 other “warrant articles” and elect three members to the School Board.
Below are my recommendations:
Article 1) abstain – the budget will increase and taxes will be raised regardless of the outcome of this article; I do not want to be “held responsible” for an increase, so to keep a clear conscience, I will abstain from voting either for or against Article 1
Article 2) Yes – I believe that athletics should be self-funded, and think creating an “Athletic Fund” is one way to help fund athletics.
Article 3) Yes – this article authorizes the board to accept donations for the “Athletic Fund” should Article 2 pass. It only makes sense to allow the board to accept donations for the newly created fund.
Article 4) NO – this will allow the board to increase taxes to maintain a “building fund”
Article 5) NO – the profit from the sale of the building should be returned to the taxpayers
Article 6) NO – I believe granting the board the authority to purchase land without permission from the voters is irresponsible and could be abused.
Article 7) NO – this could allow the board to increase taxes to maintain a surplus of 2.5%
School Board members (vote for 3)
Ian B. Freeman
Darryl W. Perry
Conan W. Salada
http://sau29-nh.schoolloop.com/file/1335086284093/1344704065624/5908117873796785309.pdf
Article 1 Shall the District raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant, or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $62,386,947. Should this article be defeated, the operating budget shall be $63,490,613, which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the District or by law; or the governing body may hold one special meeting in accordance with RSA 40:13, X and XVI, to take up the issue of the revised operating budget only. (Note: This appropriation does not include appropriations in Articles 2, 4 and 5)
Article 2 Shall the District establish an expendable trust fund under the provisions of RSA 198:20-c, to be known as the “Athletic Fund,” for the purpose of the purchase of equipment, uniforms, supplies and the payment of other operating costs of the athletic programs at Keene High School and Keene Middle School; and name the school board as agents to expend from this fund; and shall the District raise and appropriate the sum of $20,000.00 to be placed in the fund with such amount to come from fiscal year 2012 – 2013 surplus revenue available for transfer on July 1, 2013, and will not be raised by taxation in 2013 – 2014? This sum represents funds raised in the advertising program conducted in the 2012 – 2013 school year. (Note: The School Board recommends a “yes” vote upon this question).
Article 3 If Article 2 is approved by the District, shall the District further authorize the acceptance of privately-donated gifts, legacies and devises to be utilized for the same purposes as the “Athletic Fund,” all in accordance with the provisions of RSA 198:20-c?
Article 4 Shall the District raise and appropriate the sum of up to $100,000, to be added to the “school buildings maintenance fund,” for the purpose of repairing and maintaining the school buildings within the District as established by the voters at the 2010 annual meeting? This sum will come from the June 30, 2013 unexpended balance of 2012 – 2013 appropriations available for transfer on July 1, 2013, and will not be raised by taxation in 2013 – 2014. (Note: The School Board recommends a “yes” vote upon this question).
Article 5 Shall the District raise and appropriate the sum of $250,000, to be added to the “school buildings maintenance fund,” for the purpose of repairing and maintaining the school buildings within the District as established by the voters at the 2010 annual meeting? This sum will come from fiscal year 2012 – 2013 surplus revenue available for transfer on July 1, 2013, and will not be raised by taxation in 2013 – 2014. This sum represents a portion of the net proceeds (the net proceeds were $427,500) from the sale of the 34 West St. property during the 2012 – 2013 fiscal year. (Note: The School Board recommends a “yes” vote upon this question).
Article 6 Shall the District authorize the Board of Education to lease or purchase land or land and buildings for school purposes as such land or land and buildings may be adjacent to any school buildings within the District and/or adjacent to streets which border such school buildings within the District?
Article 7 To see if the District will authorize the Board of Education to retain year-end unassigned general funds in an amount not to exceed, in any fiscal year, 2.5 per cent of the current fiscal year’s net assessment for the purpose of having these funds on hand to use as a revenue source for emergency expenditures and over-expenditures under RSA 32:11, or to be used as a revenue source to reduce the tax rate.
