What public budget hearing?

Thursday, February 2, 2012

To the editor:

There is a reason why only six people attended the Bedford School District FY2013 Budget Hearing. Like many, I found out after the Jan. 4 hearing had taken place. In previous years, budget hearings were held between Jan. 11 and 15 to stay away from the holiday season. At the Dec. 19 meeting, the school board moved the hearing to Jan. 4 from Jan. 11, where it had been scheduled for months. Making that change a week before Christmas did not allow for adequate publicity. So many Bedford citizens did not know about the hearing.

The budget, if all warrant articles pass for employee raises, will actually be $61,032,604, a tax increase of 32 cents per thousand. That is an increase of $112 on a $350,000 house, a total tax rate of $15.54 per $1,000, or $5,439 in school taxes alone on a $350,000 house. It is also a cost of $13,768 per student, $2,479 more than FY 2011.

Since Bedford has fewer students this year than last, why is there any tax increase? Why is there one teacher per 15 students? Counting specialists and paraprofessionals, there is one instructor per nine students. This is not the private Derryfield Academy; it is Bedford Public Schools. Worse yet, why have one school district employee per 6.4 students? With fewer students, there should be fewer teachers, teacher helpers, administrators and non-teaching positions. Since the number of employees increased from 655 in FY 2009 to 714 for FY 2011 (59 total), should we feel guilty that our school board cut only 23 positions for FY 2012 and is proposing to cut 10 more for FY 2013?

The school board is not elected to find more ways to spend the hard earned money of citizens. Since 2006, my taxes have increased by nearly $2,000 (38 percent). After three years of severe unemployment, with many Bedford citizens losing jobs and homes, the school board should cut spending. A salary freeze for all administrators would be a good start.

If you do not want 32 cents added to last year’s 86-cent increase in your school taxes (a horrendous $4 million more in spending then), be sure to check out the proposed budget at www.SAU25.net and come to the deliberative session at 7 p.m. Feb. 7, in the high school theater. Only Bedford registered voters can speak or vote.

JOLEEN WORDEN,

Bedford