Until this week, our town officials were engaged in a divisive debate on the merits of an override to fund town services and the schools. Once again we are spending 80 percent of our time debating solutions that, at best, can fix 20 percent of the problem. In our schools today we spend less per child on regular education than we did in 1993. How many of us spend less today on our budgets than we did in 1993? This is true despite more than a doubling of the average family tax bill. The reason is chronic underfunding by the state of small communities under Chapter 70, coupled with increased mandated spending on programs such as special education.
Last week the Senate and House Joint Education Committee held a hearing on S. 291, a bill to reform Chapter 70 state education funding. The proposed bill has the support of the committee leadership in both houses. It would substantially increase the floor of funding under Chapter 70 and improve the allocation of funds for special education and for preschool expenditures. If enacted, as proposed, Harvard would receive an additional $310,000 this year, and the formula would help ensure that in future years state-mandated programs and increased health insurance costs would be covered by state revenues, not local taxes.
Only Stu Sklar from the School Committee attended and testified at the hearing. We need to do more. Our selectmen voted to send an email, but that is not enough. Sure, we can sharpen our pencils and scrutinize our budgets to find savings, but even those with green eyeshades have to admit it is unlikely that we can save our way out of our structural deficit. This bill is a good first step. It shifts the costs of education from local property tax rolls—that punish those least able to afford them—to income taxes. Why should a fixed-income senior in Harvard pay more than a fixed-income senior in Acton, Boxborough, or Boston for educational expenses?
Two years ago, when Chapter 70 was last adjusted, Acton’s town officials organized their community, attended hearings, and met with the legislative leadership. As a result, when it passed, Acton’s Chapter 70 funding increased $500 per student. Today Acton receives $500 more in aid per child, and Boxborough receives about $1,000 more in aid per child, than Harvard. This difference amounts to more than our current deficit. To put this in context, Boston receives $8,000 per child more than Harvard in Chapter 70 aid, more than we spend per child in the schools on regular education.
If we really want to address our budget problem, it is time for our town officials to visit the State House and get engaged. It is also important for all of us to email or call the Senate and House leadership to support S.291. You can send email to Senator Antonioni at Robert.Antonioni@state.ma.us; and Representative Haddad, Rep.PatriciaHaddad@hou.state.ma.us. Copy the staff at Kenneth.Raymond@hou.state.ma.us and Nathan.Mackinnon@hou.state.ma.us.
Let them know that we need a $2,000 per child floor to cover underfunded state mandates. Let them know we need to stop punishing our fixed-income seniors and family farms. Let them know that despite having one of the highest average family tax bills in the state, we spend less per child than the state average in our schools. Let them know that it is wrong to choose between taxing our fixed-income neighbors out of the town and cutting our school services. This bill has support from many communities across the state, and there is a real chance of passage if folks get involved.
You can also register a message with the governor by visiting the Chapter 70 Coalition on the Deval Patrick website at www.devalpatrick.com/issue.php?issue_id=7593229 and vote in favor of the issues. Let’s stop fighting over overrides and limited local resources and work together on finding a long-term solution.
