Support the Town of Rehoboth. A Unique Perspective.

I support our town. I support our schools. I support our override.

Over the course of the last few years, in general, and the past couple weeks, in particular, I have heard from family and friends regarding the Town of Rehoboth and Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District’s financial situations and the upcoming override vote. I have overheard and participated in conversations with other fellow citizens. Although I do not use social media personally, I have (unfortunately) witnessed a few of the posts. I have contributed to our committees and attended financial summit and town meetings. I consider myself a well-informed member of our community.

I generalize that, among the many perspectives, it seems to me there are two “sides” that have developed here in town: (a) those who do not wish to participate financially towards the betterment of our community and who may view the DRRSD as a burden rather than an investment and (b) those who may near-blindly support DRRSD funding, may view any DRRSD budgetary analysis or fiscal responsibility discussions/actions as an attack on our students’ well-being and educational system’s future health, and may question or fictionalize the finance committee’s “motive”.

While we must welcome the opinion of all parties, it is important that we develop our own beliefs intelligently, with respect for others, and be mindful of the multi-dimensional nature of this sensitive topic. In the end, we will all have the opportunity to participate in a purely democratic process and vote for what we feel is best. However, I strongly encourage you to first stop, think, and be sure to clearly define “best” for yourself, because it need not be solely one side or the other.

If you view your home or property as a financial asset (rather than just a living expense), you will likely find that the several hundred dollars in additional taxation per year should yield a greater long term result and prevent the financial downside of otherwise not approving the override and crippling our educational system. Given that real estate demand, and therefore value, in a community is influenced so heavily by the success of its school system, I encourage that we continue that success. If you still choose your decision shortsightedly with your wallet here and now, make it with hostility towards the DRRSD and their budget, or do not believe (or care) that a failed override would have a catastrophic effect on the DRRSD’s educational performance, then act while fully acknowledging the likely financial gains on which you are turning your back. Personally, I would rather not miss this unique investment opportunity.

Next, I also firmly believe there is room for improvement regarding the financial management of the DRRSD. Furthermore, I trust the school committee is dedicated to the future success of the district, but also expect that they fulfill their entrusted responsibility to Rehoboth and its citizens who voted them into office, while keeping in mind that responsibility is two-headed – both educational AND financial. Therefore, although I feel there is cause for reasonable concern regarding the size of the continued DRRSD budget increases, it should by no means result in animosity or the desire by our townspeople to handcuff the district’s ability to continue striving for success. I believe that transparency and budgetary restraint, with public oversight, will be key as we continue forward – especially with a passed override. In short, we should seek improvement, but not obstruct progress in the event of displeasure or frustration.

Now, allow me to disclose my rather unique position. My wife is a full-time educator employed by DRRSD. And my two young children are thriving students in the district. And I am the vice chairman of the town’s finance committee.

AND.

Therefore, although my perspective shared here does not reflect that of the finance committee, I was a participant in the finance committee’s recommendation for the town to reduce its “above net minimum contribution” to the DRRSD. Tough call? Absolutely. At the beginning of the finance committee’s budget meeting, we heard from DRRSD administration and learned their strategy to obtain the necessary funding to support the district’s large FY 2019 assessment increase was an operational override. Upon contemplation, my perspective was that, more than any other single group in the town’s voting populous, the DRRSD and reach of its dedicated audience actually has the ability to successfully execute that mission. Furthermore, the finance committee simply had no revenue source that could even come close to supporting the large assessment increase put forth by the DRRSD. In a perfect world, the town’s revenue sources would exceed all departmental requests and the finance committee’s annual budget meeting would last only a few moments. However, alas, there we were. Therefore, I felt by voting as I did, that town departments would be well funded for next year (for the first time in many) AND I was optimistic about the DRRSD override plan.

As we know, the town, in totality, has been living beyond its means for years. The finance committee has provided warning, but has nonetheless “found a way” in each recent year to satisfy the masses by aggressively estimating revenue sources while recommending decreased town department budgets and the use of free cash in order to fund the significant increases sought by the DRRSD. Therefore, this upcoming year’s situation was inevitable; we reached the point where the pool of revenue estimate increases and available free cash have run dry.

So, the DRRSD is now proactively laying off long-term district employees – our fellow citizens and friends – to be prepared in case the override fails. Morale is decreasing and animosity mounts. Neighbors are taking sides. Social media trolls spew hostility and misinformation. Heels are digging in. And for what?

Our community is growing for a reason, folks – people WANT to live here over other surrounding towns! We should all take pride in that achievement. However, with such success, we also share the great responsibility to continue thriving. With a set tax levy limit that will otherwise grow by only 2 ½ percent each year, the town cannot support its own growing needs. An increase in property values as a whole (like what we are witnessing due to new housing developments and increased demand) does NOT increase the tax levy – the town’s primary funding source. Therefore, we have the same slowly increasing tax levy with the burden of rapidly growing service demands – on public safety, highway, schools, town hall, and every other department that exists solely to serve the needs of us and our fellow citizens. To further my point: contemplate for a moment if your household income grew by only 2.5% per year, less than the annual rate of inflation since 1982 (when Proposition 2 ½ went into effect), while the number of people living under your roof grew significantly during the same period… then offset that figure with your current cost of living and consider the result.

As an aside but related to taxation and the override, I would like to fact-check a common misconception I have overheard on multiple occasions that an override this year will forever open the taxation spigot: a successful override now will effectively reset the tax levy to the voted upon amount, but will solely impose (“fall back to”) a 2 ½ percent increase over that amount in years thereafter unless another override was voted “yes”. In short, voters have complete control; the scope of this override vote is fixed to a single year per Massachusetts law.

Next, although, again, I do not speak on behalf of the finance committee, I have no reason to believe its members are wholly “gunning” for the DRRSD. We are a small group of volunteers who the selectmen appoint and task with the responsibility of presenting a recommended balanced budget at town meeting, from known funding sources, and who donate their personal time and individual skillsets to advise with financial decisions of the town. So, although the recommendation to reduce the DRRSD’s “above net minimum contribution” for next year was, by far, the most challenging for me since I began serving, the committee has fully performed the known, limited scope of its job.

However, as voting citizens, we collectively have the ability to accomplish FAR MORE than make recommendations against an already-established set of constrained revenue sources. We have the capacity to actually affect change through democratic process. To build a community that raises the next generations of leaders. To improve asset appreciation by creating real estate demand. To welcome new citizens (ahem, taxpayers) and their families to our community.

Think beyond the “sides”. Think beyond the misconceptions. Think beyond your own wallet. Think beyond here and now. THINK.

Then, on July 17th, take action and vote. When you do, please do not send just one member of your household because it will not be enough… ALL who are eligible must participate. We all lead busy lives but, given the town’s small size, keep in mind that the numbers will matter and every vote will be important. So please think, and then vote for what you define as BEST -- for yourself AND for the town we all call home.

Support our town. Support our schools. Support our override.

Douglas C. Furtado
- Husband of a full-time educator in the DRRSD
- Father of two students enrolled in the DRRSD
- Vice Chairman of the Town of Rehoboth Finance Committee

n.b. Thanks so much for taking the time to read. Persuasion aside, I wanted to share a perspective deeply rooted in both “schools of thought”. Don’t agree with me? I’m cool with it and wish you the best. But, there’s no need to disrespectfully attack me on social media… I won’t see it or respond anyway. Comments? Please send them to dcfurtado@comcast.net. Be well, Rehoboth.