Joe Cormier: Moultonborough school budget increases for same number of students

To The Daily Sun,

The Moultonborough school district had its budget hearing Feb. 13. It really wasn't a hearing. It was a reading of warrant articles. Copies of the budget, all 37 pages, were available as you came in. The “heavy hitters” for discussion by the limited audience were articles on capital appropriation; solar ($1.44 million) and the energy saving equipment ($8.15 million). Everyone seems to agree on the boilers for ($1.06 million). The following comments pertain more to the numbers and accounts in the budget, not the warrant.

The operating budget has 26 accounts totaling $18.01 million; some, including: regular education $6.54 million; special education $3 million; plant services $2.12 million; principals' offices $864,925; superintendent's office $700,718; tech-assisted instruction $664,875; transportation $492,194; athletics $477,824; guidance services $461,537; instruction improvement $368,590; library $340,569; counseling $257,331.

Add the capital appropriations for another $10.66 million (not counting the $125,000 to reserves) to the $18.01 million and it looks like around $28.73 million to hit the taxpayers.

Supposedly, three schools: elementary, middle, and high schools for about 480 students. Three principals with staff and a superintendent with staff. Some of the line items in the “regular education” budget, excluding salaries, FICA, retirement, etc.: add: new furniture; new equipment; supplies: art, languages, music, social studies, scholar, etc.

Last year's annual report (not budget) by the district treasurer, on page 29 shows $2.75 million in operating checking account. Let's hope that checking account “stays healthy.” How does it fit into the budgeting?

The operating budgets, according to the NH DRA form MS-26 show: $18.08 million for 2024; $17.4 million for 2023; $15.54 million for 2022; $14.99 million for 2021; $13.78 million for 2020; $13.33 million for 2019.

A 37% increase in operating budgets over five years, with a student enrollment vacillating around 480-500 between the same years.

Can't wait for donor town status to hit us in Moultonborough again.

Joe Cormier

Moultonborough