It’s a Tax Increase – and a Broken Promise

Posted by WTC on Mar 5, 2013 in Featured, General, School | Comments Off

An Analysis of Windham Schools – Part 6

 

 

The term “High Water Mark” has been used for a long time to describe the level of taxes that we would pay, should the proposed new school project be approved this March. It has been linked with statements like; “The tax impact for school construction will not exceed the High Water Mark of FY12” (see School Board chart below) and “There will be no tax increase, as a result of this bond!” (Windham WINS flyer and presentations).

It’s important to understand three points about these statements that may not be clear:

1. The “High Water Mark of FY12” includes the cost for the WHS as well as Windham’s portion for the Kindergarten (after State Aid).

2. Windham Taxpayers paid $1.5M for the Kindergarten (after State Aid).  $626K of that money was raised in 2011 and $900K was raised in 2012.  So the actual “Tax Impact” in 2012 for the Kindergarten was $900K – not the $1.5M that is included in the “High Water Mark” in the chart below.

3. When the Kindergarten project was sold to Windham Taxpayers, we were promised it would only be a “one time hit.“  But now it is being presented as a benchmark for an “acceptable level of taxation”.

For those who are OK with raising our taxation in this manner, it doesn’t change the fact that the 2012 bar in the chart below inaccurately includes money that was raised in 2011.  Look at the chart to see where the top of that 2012 bar would be if it were $626K lower.  THAT is the level of taxes raised in 2012 for school construction… and it is pretty clear it would be BELOW at least five (and maybe more) of the first seven years we would make payments on the proposed $50M+ school project ($31M bond, $20.1M interest, No Chance for State Aid).  That represents a tax increase.

Now look where the top of the bar would be if the entire cost of the Kindergarten were eliminated from the 2012 bar – as it should be.  It would be in-between FY11 and FY13.  Then look at the first 13 years of the bond payments for the new school — and how they are higher than where FY12 should be without the Kindergarten.  That represents a broken promise for a “one time hit”, and another 13 years that our Taxes will be higher than the WHS Construction level of 2012.

 

BTW, that spike for FY10 in the graph above is for the WHS as well as the final bond payment for the 2000-2001 renovations to WCS and WMS.

For more information on the cost of the proposed New School project, read Part 4 of this series.  For full analysis of the proposed new school, please visit www.WindhamTaxpayers.org.

The Windham Taxpayers Coalition

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Opinion: Check the Facts!

Posted by WTC on Mar 4, 2013 in General, Opinion | Comments Off

Windham Resident Tom Saad posted his thoughts on the Windham Patch.  We thought you might like to read them.

In a flyer being handed out by the WINS group, it says the Windham Middle School is “Unapproved”! WRONG. I checked with the NH DOE, http://www.education.nh.gov/program/school_approval/public_approval.htmhttp://www.education.nh.gov/program/school_approval/public_approval.htm   IT IS APPROVED!

Read more: http://windham.patch.com/announcements/check-the-facts

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Why I am Voting for Dennis Senibaldi

Posted by WTC on Mar 2, 2013 in General, Opinion | Comments Off

I believe that we are at a crossroads, and that it is time to consider a new direction for our School District.  That can only come if we elect someone to the School Board that will bring a different perspective with a renewed sense of fiscal restraint that will always be considered when solving our needs… so that the people who helped build this community can afford to stay here and continue to enjoy it.

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An Analysis of Windham Schools – Part 5

Posted by WTC on Feb 28, 2013 in Featured, General, School | Comments Off

How Much Is Enough?

 

The Windham Taxpayers Coalition (www.WindhamTaxpayers.org) loves our children and supports efforts to improve their educational opportunities.  We also support the people who have lived here their entire lives, some for generations.  We ask that public servants do the same while being good stewards of our tax dollars.

As you read below, please consider the two distinct governmental budgets here in Windham – and the direction each have taken.

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Opinion: Are We Prepared and Can We Afford to Build Another School?

Posted by WTC on Feb 28, 2013 in General, Opinion, School | Comments Off

Windham Resident Carolyn Therrien posted her thoughts on the Windham Patch.  We thought you might like to read them.

I became a resident of Windham, New Hampshire, in 1980 along with my husband Paul Therrien.  Windham was a small bucolic town and we have watched Windham grow into one of the most desirable towns in New Hampshire.  However, everything changed with the building boom of 2004-2007. With Windham growth we became one of the heavily taxed towns in NH due to an escalating school budget.

Read more: http://windham.patch.com/announcements/are-we-prepared-and-can-we-afford-to-build-another-school

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