Adams-Cheshire Struggling to Meet Budget Goals
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Adams-Cheshire Regional School District is attempting to cut more than $360,000 from the fiscal 2017 school budget to meet the expectations of its two member towns.
But different state formulas for calculating the towns' assessments are making it difficult to figure how much to cut.
Business Manager David Hinkell told the Audit & Evaluation Subcommittee on Thursday night that to meet the towns' targeted assessment increases, the budget must be cut by approximately $369,000.
He said Adams indicated that it could handle an increase of $251,000 and Cheshire, $109,000.
The current budget draft puts the total assessment as $730,000, meaning it needs to be knocked down by $361,000 to satisfy the towns.
Assessments are determined in part by enrollment, with 74 percent of students coming from Adams and 26 percent from Cheshire.
However, a second formula calculated by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education changes the assessments depending on how much the district cuts.
DESE surveys property values and medium incomes in communities when the district spends more than that state minimum, and adjusts assessments so wealthier communities pay more. According to this survey, Adams' population is 66 percent and Cheshire's is 34 percent.
"This has changed over time. Adams is going down and Cheshire is going up because of the town's ability to pay," Hinkell said. "Every $100,000 we cut, Adams goes down $74,000 and Cheshire only goes down $26,000. As you keep going out, it takes its toll and [the] Cheshire [assessment] goes up more than Adams. That is a first."
Chairwoman Darlene Rodowicz said to meet the amount Cheshire has agreed to fund, the district would have to cut nearly $600,000. This would put Adams way below the assessment it agreed to. To get to Adams' desired amount, the district would have to cut nearly $300,000, but this would leave Cheshire paying $188,000 – almost $80,000 more than what it agreed to pay.
"It's a math problem that DESE created," Rodowicz said. "DESE created this mess so if we have a $300,000 hit, Cheshire is going to take $180,000."
Hinnkell recommended that the School Committee meet with the towns to explain the issue and see if they can increase their budgeted assessments.
"I think we have to have a discussion with the towns again and try to get a better number now that they are sure what the governor's budget is," he said.
Meanwhile, the school district will continue to look into areas it can cut.
C.T. Plunkett Principal Michelle Colvin said her team went to great lengths to find staff and budget cuts that would minimally effect the classroom.
"We really tried to look at things that would not affect kids," Colvin said. "We don't want to lose anything, but this is a dire time so we came out looking for things that would have the least impact on kids."
Cheshire Elementary Principal Peter Bachli said many of the possible reductions were proposed with the understanding that they would be made to "keep the district afloat" with the hope that they return once the district's financial situation improved.
Rodowicz said it would be unfair to promise that all the cuts would be returned. Once the district can make larger changes, such as closing a school or restructuring, there would possibly be more economic leeway, she said.
"This isn't just about the dollars, but it is about the impact of what work we have to do moving forward so if we say yes to some of these cuts, it does not mean they are out for the long term," Rodowicz said.
Tags: ACRSD, fiscal 2017, school budget,
