Due to the vagaries of the real estate market and Vermont's convoluted
education funding formula (with its rolling three-year average of
property values known as the Common Level of Appraisal), taxpayers can
expect significant tax increases for at least the next two years, just
to level fund budgets.
That's correct: Holding spending at 2009 levels for local schools and
towns (many of whom level funded from 2008 to 2009) will mean tax
increases. Significant tax increases.
As select boards and schools begin the work necessary to bring budgets
to Town Meeting next March it is imperative that community members take
the time to let board members know what programs and spending are
critical.
Service on these boards is a difficult and sometimes thankless task.
There is no sense in letting these volunteers spend countless hours
endlessly trying to find savings, cut corners and maintain necessary
services and curriculum with no input from voters.
The time to offer input into the budgeting process is now, when boards
take up the task. Select board and school board meetings are open to
the public. For those who don't want to pry themselves off the couch
for an evening meeting, email makes it possible to send comments and
budget priorities to towns and schools.
Asking them to do their work in a void is setting them up for failure.
Asking them to do their work in a void given Vermont's current economic
condition is simply a waste of everyone's time and is sure to lead to
failed school budgets, revotes, additional revotes and still more
revotes.
And school and municipal leaders must be candid, transparent and honest
with taxpayers about what things will cost next year and the fact that
taxes will go up even when budgets don't.
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