Ann Johnson: How can Newfound school district submit budget for 7 towns?

To The Daily Sun,

A question: How is it that the Newfound school district can submit a budget representing seven towns when they now only have expenses for four towns in their district? The three other towns withdrew from Newfound (100 students), yet they are still using last year's figures to create their budget for this year. They are also referring to their "loss of revenue" (which they actually are not now entitled to), and never mention the reduction of expenses (student costs, staff salaries, etc.) that no longer occur from the three towns that left. Nor do they take into account the tuition fees they will receive for students for their upper grade students. Is there an RSA that allows that while the district is being reconstructed? They have known for at least a year that this was coming. Even with the "loss of figures" in July, they would still be able to estimate the decrease of expenses from those three schools from previous years. It does not give a fair and respectful assessment of actual costs to the taxpayer.

Ann Johnson

Danbury