Perspective on Ballot Questions

from the Groton Dunstable Regional School Committee

This year’s spring election has very important ballot questions for voters.  Two questions are related to the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District.  One question involves debt exclusion and the other question would increase both towns’ assessments for the FY09 operating budget.  Both of these questions are sometimes referred to as “Proposition 2 ½ Overrides”, and we would like to briefly explain them and encourage your support.

The debt exclusion question is related to the land acquisition for the high school.  Earlier this year the school district settled the eminent domain case dealing with this property.  Both towns have previously voted to support the additional debt needed to make this final payment.  However, neither town has taken a vote to exclude this debt from each town’s annual budget.  Your support of this ballot measure is very important.

Land purchases of this type have always been excluded from the provisions of Prop 2 1/2, and this debt should be no exception.  A “no” vote would not stop the district from making this payment—we have already been granted the authority to do this.  If this question were to fail at the ballot, both the towns and the school district would have to take extraordinary steps to pay this debt.  The operating budgets of the towns and the school district would be significantly impacted and important services could be lost.

The operating budget override question is for approximately $136,000 ($106,000 for Groton, $30,000 for Dunstable).  The additional money is needed just to maintain near level services for next year’s FY09 budget.  The primary driver for this question is the decreasing rate of state funds as the state is shifting a greater percentage of the funding requirement to our towns.  Last year the school district was forced to eliminate 17 positions due to lack of funding.  Although many cost-saving measures were put in place this year, a small override is needed to avoid additional layoffs.  The committee respectfully asks for your support on this question.

Although there is mixed support for the operating budget override question amongst town officials, there is overwhelming and unanimous support of the debt exclusion question from the Boards of Selectmen and the Finance Committees of both towns.  Regardless of voters’ opinions on the operating budget override, we strongly urge all voters to support the debt exclusion vote for the high school land acquisition. 

Please vote in the upcoming spring elections on May 19 in Dunstable or May 20 in Groton!

Sincerely,

Groton-Dunstable Regional School Committee

Cindy Barrett
Forrest Buzan
Peter Carson
Paul Funch
Berta Erickson
Frank O’Connell
Chuck McKinney