Souhegan budget is lean and responsible

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

To the Editor:

The Souhegan High School administration, department heads and School Board worked very hard to bring in a budget that reflected the difficult economic times and little to no change in student enrollment. They were aggressive in their reductions in order to present a budget which has an increase of 2.48 percent over last year’s approved budget.

They faced a handicap of increases of 22.5 percent in health benefits, 5.5 percent in dental benefits and 15.23 percent in contributions to the NH Teacher’s Pension Fund. These percentages equate to $221,860 for health insurance, $9,986 for dental insurance and $91,603 for the retirement for a total of $323,449. Other increases were in the salary lines of a previously negotiated contract and plant operations.

Reductions were made across the board in staffing, including teachers, technology, text books, new and replacement equipment and interscholastic supplies and travel.

We are asking the citizens of Amherst and Mont Vernon to vote yes on Article 2.

We are also requesting a yes vote on Article 3 which adds $50,000 to the Expendable Trust for School Maintenance and Article 4 for $25,000 for an Expendable Trust Fund for Unfunded Liabilities for Retiring Employees. Both of these articles would be funded from a year-end undesignated fund balance (surplus).

GAIL AGANS, ANDREA BAVER, FRAN HARROW, MARY MAHAR, JOHN RIZZI, PETE STEARNS, MARILYN PETERMAN, Chair

Souhegan Advisory Finance Committee