The Jaffrey-Rindge apportionment committee will now look at changes to the Jaffrey-Rindge School District’s apportionment formula, as the two towns’ contingencies cannot agree how to credit state aid.
During a Wednesday meeting, the committee collectively decided that the two sides are unable to come to an agreement deciding how state aid should be factored into any splitting up of funding the school district.
While both sides agree that most state aid should be given to the district prior to any apportionment calculation, Jaffrey’s contingency is unwilling to budge on giving up their stability grant — a grant Rindge does not receive.
“The purpose [of the stability grant] is to ease the burden on municipalities,” said committee member James “Cush” Moore of Jaffrey. “I don’t think we will get anything by the Jaffrey voters if we give up the stability grant.”
Under the current apportionment formula — a 50-50 split of average daily membership and equalized property values with state aid credited to the towns — Jaffrey is estimated to see a local school tax rate of $16.86 (paying $6.8 million in total) compared to Rindge’s 17.47 (paying $9.1 million in total), based on information provided by committee chair Laurel McKenzie, who presented Jaffrey’s proposal.
Rindge’s proposal – the same apportionment formula with all state aid first being provided to the district – would have Jaffrey paying an estimated $19.09 (with the town paying $7.8 million in total) as a local school tax rate to Rindge paying $15.74 ($8.2 million in total).
Jaffrey’s proposal — the same apportionment formula with stability grants going to each town and the rest of state aid going to the district — would create estimated local tax rates of $17.68 ($7.2 million in total) for Jaffrey and $16.83 ($8.8 million in total) for Rindge.
Without an agreement on Wednesday, Rindge’s committee members will create a counter proposal to bring to the next meeting – scheduled for Aug. 15. Rindge committee member Charlie Eicher said that since the two sides could not come to an agreement when it comes to state aid, Rindge will now look to alter the apportionment formula to get a more equitable outcome.
At first we weren’t trying to change the formula, but if this isn’t working, we need to look at apportionment,” said Eicher. “Even with a 75-25 split, Rindge will probably pay more.”
Jaffrey member Jeff Clark-Kevan said he was interested in coming up with some form of recommendation to the school board, saying he doesn’t want to come out of this process feeling like nothing was accomplished.
The committee was created by a petition warrant article that was passed in March during each town’s Town Meeting. The committee — made up of a Selectman, Planning Board member, Budget Committee/Budget Advisory Committee member, and School Board member from each town — is tasked with looking at the fairness of the district’s apportionment formula. Any changes will be reported to the School Board by Oct. 1.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.