The complicated task of preparing the annual school budget is something that for years has frustrated the Marion Finance Committee in part due to a process the committee considers alien to a transparent presentation of facts on the part of the Old Rochester Regional School District.
While the mechanics of the school budget remain complex, ORR’s current administration has won fans by bringing the Finance Committee members into its brain trust as a participant and partner. In return, the committee indicates a significant gain in appreciation for the work done by Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson and Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber.
It was ORR’s turn to present to the Finance Committee on March 2, and the committee only had Wednesday night’s meeting with the Department of Public Works left on its schedule of interviews for the FY23 season.
As presented by Barber, the FY23 overall budget for the Marion School District is $6,488,440, a 2.5 percent increase over FY22 ($6,330,071.) This figure does not count Bristol County Agricultural, a $67,245 assessment, or $404,910 in funding offsets that bring the overall FY23 budget to $6,960,595.
Barber summarized the approach as a “zero-based mentality maintained” and “three instructors per grade maintained.”
“We budget what we know,” said Nelson, acknowledging Covid 19’s effects on all students, not just those in special education. “We’re taking advantage of every single grant opportunity that is out there.” Nelson said doing so helps Barber’s remediation work. “We will continue to do this.”
Barber said Marion has four paraprofessionals, one in Project Grow and one teacher at 25 percent compensation via Title 1 so there are five full-time and one part-time paraprofessional.
Based on the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief I (ESSER I) fund via the federal CARES Act, Barber said a cafeteria worker and an interventionist ($60,000) are on staff. “We’re looking at six (staffers,) but this year we have eight,” he said.
Another aspect of school budgeting in the Tri-Towns is higher property values in Marion translate into a larger assessment per capita. While Marion’s values are up by $60,000, Mattapoisett’s and Rochester’s are down, affecting the minimal state-required contribution.
“It looks not fair, but in the state’s eyes it’s very fair,” said Finance Committee Chairman Shay Assad.
“I guess we’re getting it in the property-tax values, and we wouldn’t want to give that up just to save on the assessment,” said Marion Town Administrator Jay McGrail.
Assad speculated that the eventual sale of the Lockheed Martin property could have a detrimental effect.
Declining public-school enrollment has been a hot topic in the Tri-Towns. While Marion’s enrollment is 4.1 percent down over a three-year period, Rochester (10 percent) and Mattapoisett (9 percent) are seeing steeper declines. But between Mattapoisett and Rochester, 135 students are attending vocational high schools, while Marion has 20.
“There’s a much larger portion of a bill that we don’t see in Marion that’s associated with the vocational schools,” said Assad. “In the world of capital, we’re actually benefitting a little bit. … the door kind of swings both ways.
“We’re going to take a few months of communications with the voters and answer their questions. School Committee calls the shots, we give our opinion. … It’s not the same for every student … it’s really complicated.”
Select Board member John Waterman called Barber’s presentation “the clearest, most-transparent explanation of the school budget.”
Heather Burke, the chairperson of the ORR School Committee, said, “We wanted the next leaders of the district to be transparent and be fiscally strong.” Burke credited Nelson and his short staff.
Former Finance Committee Chairman Peter Winters agreed. “It’s definitely the best presentation we’ve had. The better the information, the better we can make our decisions,” he said.
McGrail was happy to report to the Finance Committee a successful rerating process with S&P, resulting in the highest possible ratings for both short-term and long-term borrowing.
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t say a lot of that has to do with (Finance Director) Judy (Mooney) and how she’s managed this town over the last several years,” said McGrail. “It means we get to borrow money for … .2 percent.”
McGrail also announced that Tabor Academy has committed to make a three-year donation to the town targeted in year one at ORR’s new stabilization fund.
In saying that Head of School Tony Jaccaci “clearly wants to find ways to build a relationship with the town,” Waterman noted that Tabor has donated to town projects in the past. Those include the village infrastructure project, $10,000 toward carpets at the Cushing Community Center and $10,000 for the Harbormaster’s building. The prep school also provided pies for the town’s senior citizens.
The committee was scheduled to meet with DPW Director Nathaniel Munafo in its final department interview on Wednesday night.
The next meeting of the committee has not been scheduled.
Marion Finance Committee
By Mick Colageo