Issue #23: We need to understand the RHAM Budget and the implications of how Hebron sending more students to RHAM next year impacts Hebron taxpayers, but not Andover or Marlborough taxpayers.
This question was asked on a forum, and we responded with the data. We decided that it should be an actual budget issue to make sure that everyone knows and understands what is going on with the currently proposed 5.58% RHAM budget increase for Hebron taxpayers.
The RHAM budget is indeed complicated, especially for Hebron taxpayers.
RHAM is currently considering a 2.52% budget (AKA "spending") increase.
However, Hebron is sending more students, as compared to the number of students Andover and Marlborough will be sending next year. The RHAM budget is divided among the three towns based on the number of students each town sends. Therefore, the RHAM budget for each town will always be fluid because their "share" depends on how many students each town sends to the school that particular budget year.
Because Hebron is sending more students next year to RHAM than we did last year, Hebron's proportionate responsibility for the total RHAM budget goes from 52.81% of the FY 2009-10 budget to 54.14% of the FY 2010-11 budget. So the spending increase of 2.52% plus the proportionate increase of 1.33% of the total budget equates to a 5.58% RHAM increase to Hebron residents. For Andover and Marlborough residents, they will see a proportionate DECREASE in their share of the RHAM budget.
We have been advising readers for some time that EVEN if RHAM comes in at a 0% spending increase, there will still be a tax increase to Hebron residents because we are sending more students to RHAM next year. In all fairness, when you vote at the polls, you should be voting on the proposed RHAM spending increase. The proportional increase of Hebron students attending RHAM is just a fact of life. It also emphasizes why RHAM (at least for Hebron residents) needs to come in at a 0% spending increase to minimize the tax increase for Hebron residents.
Ahh... one more time that the writing is on the wall: the big spenders in Marlborough could pass the RHAM budget at almost any cost because the burden will, one more time, fall on Hebron's and Andover’s shoulders.
Andover and Hebron need to partner together for that 0% spending increase to offset the Marlborough "big spenders" vote. Remember that over the years, Hebron and Andover have partnered, but could not out-vote our big spending neighbors. Marlborough’s per capita income exceeds Hebron's, and FAR exceeds Andover's.
Keep in mind that this proportional increase in Hebron students going to RHAM next year is all part of the "bubble" of students that began in 2004, and as we've written on another post, our proportion of the RHAM budget will continue to increase over the next 5 years.
After that, there will be a lot of empty classrooms as student population is significantly declining, and we are having very little luck in attracting new families with children (i.e., "new customers") to Hebron due to the high taxes.
Which is why we can only laugh when we continue to hear the "rumors" (which aren’t exactly rumors) that the Hebron Administration is still talking about building a new school.
For who? The ghosts of Christmas past?