Hey there, fellow residents of St. Albans!
I wanted to take a moment to chat with you about something really crucial for our community: school funding and the upcoming school budget. It’s not the most thrilling topic, I know, but it affects us all, so it’s worth diving into.
Last year, the state implemented Act 127, which shook up how schools are funded for the fiscal year 2025 (starts in July). One aspect of this change was meant to cap tax increases for five years, but unfortunately, that part isn’t quite doing what it was supposed to. As a result, we’re seeing statewide impacts on everyone’s school tax calculations.
Now, there’s some hope on the horizon in the form of a new bill, HR 850. This bill aims to address some of the issues caused by Act 127, but it’s unlikely to pass before Town Meeting Day. However, once it does kick in, it should help alleviate some of the tax increase we’re facing.
I know, it’s a lot of legal jargon and technical stuff to wrap our heads around. But the bottom line is this: Maple Run isn’t the primary reason behind the spike in school taxes. Act 127 is the real culprit here. Even if the schools slash their budgets by millions, it won’t put much of a dent in this increase. We’re banking on those state-level changes to come through and save the day.
Even though this is happening at the state level, it’s crucial for us to understand how it impacts our neighbors, especially for someone like me who’s running for city council. As councilors, we’ll be fielding questions about these increases and tax changes, so it’s important to be informed and ready to discuss these topics with our community. You don’t have to be an expert, but being approachable and having a grasp of the issues goes a long way.
I bring to the table a unique perspective on these matters. My time working with the Milton Town School District and attending every Milton School Board meeting has given me invaluable experience and familiarity with school education funding, as well as municipal planning and budgeting. I am committed to utilizing this experience to serve our community effectively.
Thanks for taking the time to stay informed, St. Albans! Let’s keep working together to make our community even better.