We do not need a Prop 2½ override. The only way to stop the constant overrides is to stop giving. As long as the taxpayers give, the big spenders will continue to spend.
We will now get at least $250,000 in additional state aid, but the override will be $750,000, not $500,000. You can be sure the big spenders will find a way to spend the extra $250,000. And don’t forget, the override is a permanent tax increase.
In a school system as small as the Harvard system, the only administration necessary is a combination superintendent-principal at Bromfield, a principal at the elementary school, with a secretary between them. Instead, we have the following administrative positions, taken from the school budget:
- The superintendent, an administrative assistant, a business coordinator, and clerical staff in the superintendent’s office
- A principal, curriculum coordinator, secretary, and clerical staff at the elementary school
- A principal, associate principal, department coordinator, secretary, guidance secretary, and clerical staff at Bromfield
- A director of special education and a secretary
This gives a total salary for school administration of $1,021,799. This total does not include the pension benefits of 80 percent of the last three years’ salary, and other benefits. There are more than enough savings in school administration to eliminate the override without affecting the teaching staff.
In the private sector a typical secretary makes between $19,000 and $40,000 a year. At the elementary school the salary of the secretary is $60,562, and the Bromfield secretary has a salary of $78,434, with both getting a pension of 80 percent of their last three years’ salary.
Public employees could pay at least 50 percent of their health insurance. This would be another way to more than eliminate the override.
Harvard is getting to be a town where only the well-to-do and government workers can retire. Perhaps we should become more diverse and inclusive and let others retire in Harvard. We could do this by freezing the school portion of property taxes when a person reaches the age of 65.
Peter Zuk
Old Littleton Road
