BRATTLEBORO-Voters in the Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) will consider a $67.7 million fiscal year 2026 budget with a $3.2 million capital expense to improve the Tenney Field grandstand [see sidebar] when they meet March 18.
With 2,300 students in the district, that means a $15,851-per-pupil expense rate - a 6.7% per-pupil spending increase, said Finance Committee Chair Shaun Murphy.
In the budget, approved unanimously by WSESD directors, average town homestead tax rates are expected to decline by 3%, Murphy said.
"Most towns will see a larger decrease in taxes, and one town, Dummerston, will see an increase," he said.
School taxes are projected to drop by about 1.4% in Brattleboro, 6% in Guilford, and 1% in Putney, and they will go up about 6% in Dummerston, based on changes to the state's common level of assessment that relies on real estate sales in each community.
Overall, the proposed budget is a 1.1%, or $744,000, increase over this year's budget. As has been the case historically, major increases have been driven by health insurance and special education costs.
Resident George Carvill asked about the "hit" on the budget and taxes if the "federal impoundment" [President Trump's stoppage of federal grants] isn't reversed.
Business Manager Frank Rucker said the budget is predicated on less than $1 million in federal aid.
"There's been no indication that Title I, that's the primary grant, is in jeopardy, so far," he said. "It's meaningful, but it's not a catastrophic component. It does fund essential services and it's support for math and literacy proficiency, so it would absolutely be detrimental."
Superintendent Mark Speno told the board the budget reflects program and position reductions that have been being reflected upon for several years and that were paid for with federal grant money post-Covid that were knowingly "not sustainable in the long run."
He said the budget still represents the best interests of students and is forward-thinking.
"I feel confident and proud to present this budget […] we feel it's fiscally responsible and still meets the needs of our students and staff, and our community," Speno said.
Regarding the district's fund balance - "a measure of solvency," said Rucker - which is currently $1.4 million, the budget proposes to use $500,000 from that fund to stabilize tax rates.
"I'm not a fan of using fund balance to artificially do your job as board members," said resident Richard "Dick" DeGray. "You didn't reduce spending. So somebody's got to pay for that, and that's all of us taxpayers."
DeGray implored board members to "heed that, because it's a trick that's used every year - not only by the school, but municipalities, to make their tax rate look good."
An informational meeting on the budget is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11.
This News item by Virginia Ray was written for The Commons.