Windham Taxpayers Coalition Asks: 'How Much is Enough?'

An Analysis of Windham Schools – Part 5

How Much Is Enough?  

The Windham Taxpayers Coalition (www.WindhamTaxpayers.org) loves our children and supports efforts to improve their educational opportunities.  We also support the people who have lived here their entire lives, some for generations.  We ask that public servants do the same while being good stewards of our tax dollars.

As you read below, please consider the two distinct governmental budgets here in Windham – and the direction each have taken.

Our town government’s 2012 tax rate is exactly what it was in 2001.  During those 11 years Windham finished paying off millions for a new Police Department, Fire Department and Library. Moreover, our town government currently carries NO DEBT.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for our School District.  As the graph below shows, our School District’s spending has increased consistently and significantly during the same timeframe, and it is projected to continue upward – from $15.88 in 2012 to $17.95 in 2013, $18.70 in 2014 and $19.70 in 2015.

If all of the School Warrant Articles pass in March, Windham would be in the top 5 towns in NH regarding School Tax Rates ($1.50 higher than Derry’s current rate),and the approved new spending would lead to a MINIMUM increase of almost $8M in our local School tax burden over the next 3 years.  This amount reflects an increase of 24%, and it unreasonably assumes no other part of the school budget will increase, e.g. healthcare, maintenance, etc.

On March 12th, we have an important decision to make.  Should we continue the trends of the past or make course corrections?

Click here to see Windham’s Tax Rates for 2001-2015 if all Warrant Articles pass.

So how much is enough?  When does reasonable cross the line and become unreasonable?  Have future school plans been thought out while embracing fiscal responsibility?

1. $52M+ for the High School until 2026 (utilized at 76%)
2. If Article 2 passes… $51M+ for TWO GRADES ($31M Bond, $20M Interest, No Chance for State Aid)
3. Another bond to retrofit our existing schools – because the School Board has already said the proposed 7^th/8^th grade school DOES NOT solve all our problems.

The proposed FY 2014 School budget will be around $50M (including state and federal funding), and it will increase to approximately $55M (if not more) by 2015.  Additional projected bond sales will continue that trend even higher.

Bedford built a combination Middle School / High School shortly before we built WHS for a little more.  Their school is also beautiful, and handles over 2,000 students for grades 7 through 12.  That’s double the students and two more grades.  We’re now looking at over $100M to our local tax burden to manage the same needs of our 7th-12th grade solution (over $100M) for less students.

Is this the direction we should continue on?  It is up to you.  Vote on March 12^th!

The Windham Taxpayers Coalition

Source data for graph years 2001-2012:2001-2012 Town Reports

Source data for graph years 2013-2015: Warrant Article Presentation and 2013-01-22-WSD-FY14-MS26.pdf