Correction of Inaccurate Reporting
Previously, on June 2 and June 4 I wrote about my concerns regarding the Brunswick School Department budget and my belief that a Pre-Kindergarten program that serves Brunswick preschool aged children should be operated by the Brunswick School Department and included in the budget rather than contracted out. It was reported in the local paper, The Times Record, that Cub Camp, would be offered but it would not be operated by the Brunswick School Department. I had encouraged those interested to contact the School Department Superintendent, Mr. Persanoski, and inquire why the Brunswick School Department would not operate this valuable, albeit abbreviated, program that research shows time and again produces positive results for those children who attend.
I visited Superintendent Persanoski today and asked him if the money to operate the summer program version of Cub Camp was included in the budget AND if the Brunswick School Department would operate it rather than contracting out this program.
I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT SUPERINTENDENT PERSANOSKI ASSURED ME THAT THE MONEY TO OPERATE CUB CAMP IS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AS PRESENTED TO THE TOWN COUNCIL AND THE ONE THE PUBLIC WILL VOTE ON JUNE 13TH.
SUPERINTENDENT PERSANOSKI ALSO ASSURED ME THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL BE OFFERED AND OPERATED BY THE BRUNSWICK SCHOOL DEPARTMENT AND WILL NOT BE CONTRACTED OUT.
This is good news and changes my vote. Even though I believe the final dollar amount for the School Department budget is less than adequate, I will support the budget. Even though I believe the Town Council overstepped its authority, I will support the budget and continue to educate the public about the very good reasons there is an independent separation between the School Board and the Town Council. Even though I believe the School Board should concentrate their efforts on working with the Superintendent to develop a yearly budget and develop policies that guide the direction of the school department and not try to get cozy with the Town Council and politicize decisions, I will support this budget. Even though I would like the School Department to move more quickly on developing policies and practices that offer equity and quality programs and services to ALL students enrolled, I will support this budget.
I also hope that the Town Council looks back into the historical records to see that after a period of keeping tax rates 'low', inevitably a back log of needs is created and tax rates increase to meet the needs of the citizens in town. You can find the historical tax records on the Town of Brunswick website in the Assessing Department under 'Notices, Documents, and Forms'. You might be surprised to see that in 2016 Brunswick's effective tax rate was $20.54 and has been climbing from a $13.32 rate since 2006. Compare this to Brunswick's effective tax rate of $28.83 in 1970 with 6 years of higher tax rates in the $24, $26, $27 range.
Sooner or later, tax rates 'right' themselves when a town's political body operates on a 'keep the tax rate to no more than 2% mentality'. We still have a ways to go before we match the 1970 rate of $28.83. And many many pent up needs in this town that have been accumulating during those years of lower tax rates.
I visited Superintendent Persanoski today and asked him if the money to operate the summer program version of Cub Camp was included in the budget AND if the Brunswick School Department would operate it rather than contracting out this program.
I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT SUPERINTENDENT PERSANOSKI ASSURED ME THAT THE MONEY TO OPERATE CUB CAMP IS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AS PRESENTED TO THE TOWN COUNCIL AND THE ONE THE PUBLIC WILL VOTE ON JUNE 13TH.
SUPERINTENDENT PERSANOSKI ALSO ASSURED ME THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL BE OFFERED AND OPERATED BY THE BRUNSWICK SCHOOL DEPARTMENT AND WILL NOT BE CONTRACTED OUT.
This is good news and changes my vote. Even though I believe the final dollar amount for the School Department budget is less than adequate, I will support the budget. Even though I believe the Town Council overstepped its authority, I will support the budget and continue to educate the public about the very good reasons there is an independent separation between the School Board and the Town Council. Even though I believe the School Board should concentrate their efforts on working with the Superintendent to develop a yearly budget and develop policies that guide the direction of the school department and not try to get cozy with the Town Council and politicize decisions, I will support this budget. Even though I would like the School Department to move more quickly on developing policies and practices that offer equity and quality programs and services to ALL students enrolled, I will support this budget.
I also hope that the Town Council looks back into the historical records to see that after a period of keeping tax rates 'low', inevitably a back log of needs is created and tax rates increase to meet the needs of the citizens in town. You can find the historical tax records on the Town of Brunswick website in the Assessing Department under 'Notices, Documents, and Forms'. You might be surprised to see that in 2016 Brunswick's effective tax rate was $20.54 and has been climbing from a $13.32 rate since 2006. Compare this to Brunswick's effective tax rate of $28.83 in 1970 with 6 years of higher tax rates in the $24, $26, $27 range.
Sooner or later, tax rates 'right' themselves when a town's political body operates on a 'keep the tax rate to no more than 2% mentality'. We still have a ways to go before we match the 1970 rate of $28.83. And many many pent up needs in this town that have been accumulating during those years of lower tax rates.
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