The stone sign at Gateway Regional Schools on Littleville Road in Huntington. (WNG File Photo)
HUNTINGTON – At a joint budget session with town officials last Wednesday, Gateway Regional Superintendent David B. Hopson presented an initial look at a draft line item budget of $16,618,428 for FY20, created through a new program, ClearGov.com. Business manager Stephanie Fisk said she believes that Gateway is the first regional district in the state to try out the program.
The ClearGov.com program allows viewers to click on each line item to bring up details and a four-year financial comparison. In addition, town officials participating in the budget discussion will be able to insert comments and questions in the document.
“We’ve talked so long about having an open process,” Hopson said, adding that the budget would be available for comments later in the week, and for discussion at the next joint budget session scheduled for Jan. 23.
Fisk said that there are no revenues in the budget at present, but they would have a better idea by the Jan. 23 meeting. She said as of now there is no increase in the health insurance premium, and that they had saved $100,000 from an anticipated residential placement; but the cost of oil has gone up.
“Once we move it to `live,’ the community will have access to it,” Hopson said.
Hopson said the new budget represents a 2.2% increase over last year, including funds for a full-day pre-school in Chester, a Chapter 74 vocational program for Early Childhood, and a curriculum director; the only three items added to the budget.
The budget also replaces the fulltime district grant writer position, currently held by Wendy Long who will be retiring this year, with a part-time position. Hopson said that part-time position will hopefully be the district’s share of support for Hilltown Economic Development Director Jeanne LeClair, a position currently funded by the six member towns.
Chester Finance committee member Andy Myers said it will be difficult to present the increase to his town, which is already facing a substantial tax increase of $1.60 per thousand. He said the town’s increase is in part due to valuations in the town going down. ”It will be a hard sell,” Myers said. Chester’s tax rate is $21 per thousand this year.
Huntington selectman and School Committee member Darlene McVeigh said Huntington’s tax rate also went up over 80 cents per thousand, due to a 54 cent devaluation. “It had to do with land sales,” McVeigh said. She said land in the town was devalued at a total of $5 million, although house prices are going up. Huntington now has a tax rate of $19.92.
Blandford Town Manager Joshua Garcia said that town’s tax rate is down by 36 cents, and property values went up. Blandford’s new tax rate is $17.21.
Tax rates for the other Gateway member towns this year are $18.02 for Middlefield, $13.22 for Montgomery, and $22.69 residential/$25.95 commercial for Russell.
Chester Select Board member John Baldasaro said the numbers did not make sense to him. Myers said the Chester Select Board will be meeting with the Board of Assessors to further explain the devaluation.
Hopson said at the Jan. 23 meeting, they would also review the differences between the statutory and alternative assessment methods, and get input from the towns on the preferred direction.
Last year, all six towns voted to support the alternative assessment method, which ties above-minimum assessments to the Gateway budget increase, not to exceed 2.5%; in place of the traditional, statutory method which increases or decreases towns by the March 1 student census, and can vary widely from year to year. In order to continue the five year pilot for the alternative assessment method, all six towns must vote for it every year at Annual Town Meetings.
