Moultonborough senator opposes funding plan
Article Date: Friday, March 7, 2008
Moultonborough's state senator said he would oppose any proposal to make Moultonborough and other towns into donor towns in education funding while giving taxpayers a primer on how the proposed funding bills would impact the town.
District 3 Sen. Joe Kenney appeared before the Board of Selectmen during Thursday's meeting to give residents a view of the current educational funding proposal in the state house amid resident concerns of the impact returning to the status of a donor town would have.
A proposed $914 million school plan is under consideration in the Statehouse, with a $48 million supplemental plan aimed at further helping students with more needs, such as those who are disabled or who speak English as a second language. The proposal calls for $16 million from more property-rich "donor communities."
Moultonborough has served as a donor town under a past education funding formula. If the donor system returns, the town could pay an additional $3.4 million in taxes — a prospect that disturbs town taxpayers.
"I will be opposing any plan that brings back the donor-receiver relationship," Kenney said.
Kenney said a constitutional amendment has been passed through the Senate to target aid toward needy communities while the current plan has a base of $3,450 per student to achieve adequacy.
"Under the plan Moultonborough's been using, they have not been giving money to the state," Kenney said. "They have been keeping the money right here."
Board Chair Karel Crawford and others said they are not pleased with the prospect of giving money to farther communities such as Amherst and Bedford.
"Why [does that] totally depend on assessed value so the Bedfords and Amherst will be receiving?" said resident Alan Ballard. "People seem to say 'look to the Lakes Region, they seem to have the deep pockets.'"
Kenney said both he and Gov. John Lynch have also not been in favor of the statewide property tax, which was brought in during the 1990s after previously being used in the state in the 1930s.
Kenney said the proposed constitutional amendment will give the voters a chance to decide.
"We're now in a situation where if we don't address adequacy, the courts will decide," he said. "We'll fight the fight and try to make a good [effort]."
Another bill is moving through the Senate requiring each community to have a kindergarten, with the state paying around 75 percent of the costs to build one while the community would pay 25 percent. The bill is especially aimed at larger communities like Derry and Salem that do not yet have a kindergarten.
"I didn't support it because I think the taxpayers should have a say on if they should have kindergarten," Kenney said.
Moultonborough has served as a donor town under a past education funding formula. If the donor system returns, the town could pay an additional $3.4 million in taxes — a prospect that disturbs town taxpayers.
"I will be opposing any plan that brings back the donor-receiver relationship," Kenney said.
Kenney said a constitutional amendment has been passed through the Senate to target aid toward needy communities while the current plan has a base of $3,450 per student to achieve adequacy.
"Under the plan Moultonborough's been using, they have not been giving money to the state," Kenney said. "They have been keeping the money right here."
Board Chair Karel Crawford and others said they are not pleased with the prospect of giving money to farther communities such as Amherst and Bedford.
"Why [does that] totally depend on assessed value so the Bedfords and Amherst will be receiving?" said resident Alan Ballard. "People seem to say 'look to the Lakes Region, they seem to have the deep pockets.'"
Kenney said both he and Gov. John Lynch have also not been in favor of the statewide property tax, which was brought in during the 1990s after previously being used in the state in the 1930s.
Kenney said the proposed constitutional amendment will give the voters a chance to decide.
"We're now in a situation where if we don't address adequacy, the courts will decide," he said. "We'll fight the fight and try to make a good [effort]."
Another bill is moving through the Senate requiring each community to have a kindergarten, with the state paying around 75 percent of the costs to build one while the community would pay 25 percent. The bill is especially aimed at larger communities like Derry and Salem that do not yet have a kindergarten.
"I didn't support it because I think the taxpayers should have a say on if they should have kindergarten," Kenney said.
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