Hebron Dollars & Sense

I flip flop on this, but maybe its time for a majority rule...2 out of the 3 towns must pass the budget...we shouldn't have to worry about "one" town controlling our tax lives.

Taxpayer wrote:
Is that what he did? So it sounded like he made a decrease somehow?

You Bet Your sweet Bippy on that iz correct

I am finding it a challenge to track more than one Board of Education at a time! I hear from my friends in Marlborough that the Administration at RHAM is offering concessions to show leadership in these difficult economic times. I also hear they are working diligently to come in at 0% which as we all know will still be an increase for Hebron. My question for you all is, how is the RHAM BOE set up as far as representation by town? Will our number of BOE members go up with our pupil count? I do not have a "plug in" to gather info off of the RHAM site.

I can guarantee you that the RHAM Administration is working extremely hard to meet the 0% spending increase mandate. I spoke with them personally earlier this week; I have great confidence that they will either reach that goal, or come very close. They got the message from our Boards of Selectmen and Finance.

With regard to a change in the number of members on the RHAM Board: it is based on town population, not student population. So the current distribution of RHAM members is not likely to change anytime soon since no one can afford to move into Marlborough or Hebron, and Andover is borderline. Their economic climate is so distressed in Andover, it's probably a good time to move there... but their taxes are also pretty high...)

With regard to the current distribution of RHAM members:
Hebron -- 5 members (Deborah Dee, Tom Tremont, Laura Steiner, Brenda Casoni, MaryAnn Leichter)
Marlborough -- 4 members (Mike Turner, Jim Cherry, Dieter Zimmer, Sandra Sudduth)
Andover -- 2 members (Ken Lee, Dan Holtsclaw)

By the way, no one can seem to get the "Board Policies" of the Hebron Board of Education, but the RHAM Board of Education Policies are easily available online at rhamms.reg8.k12.ct.us/education/componen...enu-container-1-893. It's not even hidden; there is a tab for it right on the RHAM home page rhamms.reg8.k12.ct.us/education/district...tiondetailid=1&. So kudos to RHAM for just putting the information right online, and not making residents beg for simple information.

Thank you for the RHAM BOE overview. RHAM BOE format and transparency familiar to me from other places I have lived.

Do not get discouraged. A small group of taxpayers in Southern Maine came together (just like this one) and educated the community on rights and responsibilities of participatory democracy. All they did was lead by example as you all are doing. Democrat, Republican and Independent coming together to ask questions and be involved with town governance. It takes time and commitment to attend, or watch, the meetings, and talk to friends and neighbors about what is going on in our town. Many can not speak out but will be empowered to vote. It won't happen overnight but we can do this.