There are three articles on the School District warrant that will be voted on, on March 6, 2025.  There has been some Facebook discussion that amounts to disinformation.  Here is what they really are.

Budget Cap

In New Hampshire, a school district budget cap is allowed by law but does not go into effect automatically, it must be voted in at an annual meeting.  It is a limit imposed on the amount of money a school district can spend in a given fiscal year. This cap is designed to control and regulate school spending, ensuring it aligns with the district’s needs and the available resources of the taxpayers. The budget cap is calculated based on the per-pupil cost and the average daily membership (ADM) of the district, which reflects the average number of students attending the district’s schools each day.  It can increase each year only by the amount of inflation.

To determine the budget cap, the per-pupil cost is multiplied by the ADM. For example, if the per-pupil cost is $30,000 and the ADM is 180 students, the budget cap would be $5,400,000. This cap helps maintain a balance between providing quality education and managing taxpayers’ money responsibly.

The benefits of a budget cap for taxpayers include greater transparency and accountability in school spending,

The benefits of a budget cap for taxpayers include greater transparency and accountability in school spending, as it requires districts to justify their expenditures within the set limit. This can lead to more efficient use of resources, reducing unnecessary expenses and ensuring that funds are directed towards essential educational services. The budget cap can help prevent sudden spikes in property taxes, providing a more stable and predictable tax environment for residents.

Budget Committee

A Budget Committee in a school district in is a group of elected or appointed individuals (decided by the Moderator) who play a crucial role in developing and overseeing the school district’s budget. The Budget Committee ensures the budget reflects the educational priorities and needs of the district while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Responsibilities

1. Budget Preparation: Whereas today, a budget is prepared by the principal and the SAU and rubber-stamped by the School Board, a Budget Committee reviews budget proposals from various departments within the school, makes adjustments, and prepares a comprehensive budget.
2. Public Hearings: They hold public hearings to gather input from parents, teachers, and community members, ensuring transparency and community involvement in the budgeting process.
3. Recommendations: The committee makes informed recommendations on budget-related issues to the school board and district officials.
4. Monitoring: Throughout the fiscal year, the committee monitors expenditures and revenues to ensure the budget is being followed and makes adjustments if necessary.

Contrary to how things are today, with the budget not getting any close scrutiny, an independent Budget Committee would play a vital role in ensuring taxpayer funds are managed wisely, promoting transparency, accountability, and community involvement in the budgeting process for school districts.

Benefits to Taxpayers

1. Transparency The committee’s public hearings and open meetings foster transparency, allowing residents to understand how their tax dollars are being spent on education.
2. Accountability: By scrutinizing budget proposals and monitoring spending, the committee ensures that funds are used efficiently and effectively within the school district.
3. Community Involvement: Residents have a voice in the budgeting process, which helps align the budget with the educational needs and priorities of the community.
4. Fiscal Responsibility: The committee promotes careful financial planning, reducing the risk of overspending and helping to maintain stable tax rates.

A Budget Committee plays a vital role in ensuring that taxpayer funds are managed wisely, promoting transparency, accountability, and community involvement in the budgeting process for school districts.

SB2

The SB2 (called that because it was Senate Bill 2) form of town meeting in New Hampshire offers several benefits to taxpayers, providing a more convenient and inclusive way to participate in local government decisions. Under SB2, the traditional town meeting format is replaced with a two-part process: the Deliberative Session and the Official Ballot Voting.

During the Deliberative Session (similar to what happens at the annual meeting), residents can discuss, amend, and debate warrant articles. This session allows for thorough examination and input from the community, ensuring that the proposed measures are well-considered. However, unlike traditional town meetings, the final decisions are not made during this session. Instead, the finalized warrant articles are moved to the official ballot at the annual Town Election (second Tuesday in March).  On election day, residents vote on the warrant articles at their polling place.

SB2 increases democracy, stops people from being disenfranchised, and allows many more people to be involved in decision-making.

This setup provides several advantages to taxpayers:

1. Increased Accessibility: Voting by official ballot makes it easier for residents with busy schedules, physical disabilities, or other constraints to participate in the decision-making process. They can cast their votes at a convenient time, rather than being required to attend a potentially lengthy town meeting.
2. Greater Participation: The ease of voting encourages more citizens to engage in local governance, leading to decisions that better reflect the will of the community.  For example, historically we get 300-500 voters at the town election versus 10-200 at typical school district annual meetings. (Although we did have about 480 at the meeting in 2023 where the $14.2 million school expansion was defeated.
3. Improved Transparency and Accountability: With more voters involved, there’s a higher level of scrutiny and accountability for proposed measures. This can result in more prudent fiscal decisions and better management of taxpayer funds.

Whereas the current form on annual meeting disenfranchises those with disabilities, those who work at night, or just those who are just too darn tired, the SB2 form of town meeting enhances taxpayer participation, ensures more inclusive decision-making, and promotes responsible use of public resources.