School Budget Yearly Idealisms? Reality?

Rehoboth’s vote on July 17th is to approve a 2 1/2 override ($2,115,992) that will increase Rehoboth’s tax base by approximately 10%. If approved, it will support the proposed increased FY19 Regional School budget. It is not money we already have but it authorizes the town to increase our yearly taxes moving forward forever.

Issues of concern are the management / building of the School Budget and the existing Regional Agreement that has evolved into an unfair and inequitable measurement that defines and assigns the School District’s financial responsibility to each town. These two are the problems that need to be fixed. We need to do the right thing and fix the problem and not keep paying money as if the problem will go away. Too many lives are being affected. Our children should not be pawns in a selfish game.

The Regional School Budget is a shared responsibility between Rehoboth and Dighton to give the best affordable education to our students. It is wrong for Rehoboth to be saddled with the perception that we do not want to support our children. Dighton has the same responsibility to fix the issue and the School Administration, School Committee, and Dighton need to stop being the accuser. It is Dighton’s issue as well. The problem is real. Just look at the percentage of each town’s responsibility.

This year’s proposed FY19 District Budget is $43 million / an increase of $3 million, revised down from the original request in March of $45.1 million.
Rehoboth’s share for funding the School District budget (after various reimbursements) is 64.26% and Dighton’s share is 35.74%.
When the Regional School District FY19 Budget / Assessment were put forward at the Rehoboth Annual Town Meeting, there were many questions asked to better understand how tax payer funds were being managed and allocated. There was confusion and uncertainty that still exists.

There are several base components that determine the annual assessment / budget such as: State Mandates (required directives), State Chapter 70 Funds (Revenue), the Regional Agreement between Dighton and Rehoboth (defines how each town is supposed to work together), the Actual Budget (requested per school and departments by line item), and then the Assessments to each town.
Over the last many years, the budget process has been especially difficult and seems to follow the same questionable pattern. Questions continue to focus on budgeting line items that were never spent and then transferred at the end of the year. Those funds would contribute to the increase in the school’s savings account. The amount would exceed $400,000 a year. After many years, the compounded amount exceeds $2,500,000. When the comment is made that the Regional School District takes the Region’s savings to lower the town’s assessment, one has to realize that the money comes from what was not spent in the first place and what we were taxed.

When issues around money exist - especially when there isn’t enough, it creates anxiety in having to address and accept change, fear / irrational behavior, and blame someone else. Worst case is to ignore that a problem exists.
It does not take much for one to understand the incentive for the verbal criticisms and interference with Rehoboth business by individual Dighton School Committee members. Our Selectmen have the right and due diligence to perform their financial responsibilities.

These are just a few comments (others were degrading) from an individual Dighton School Committee member:
* “Don’t support the Rehoboth 375. It is a joke.” ( because Rehoboth is questioning the School Budget).
Our 375th Parade in October is Rehoboth’s celebration. Does this comment represent Dighton’s
(dis) respect for Rehoboth?

* I was personally accused in writing by a Dighton School Committee member (discussed at a School Committee meeting) of informing the Rehoboth Citizens through the newspaper / Rehoboth Talk (even though I am not on social media) and leaking (Definition: giving information that was supposed to be hidden) the FY19 budget line items that were approved in an open meeting by the School Committee. The information was given to those same citizens that had questions at the Rehoboth Town Meeting.
Why keep information SECRET ? What is being HIDDEN?
One would assume Dighton residents would want the same information.

George Solas