Thank you to everyone who joined us at the BMS Library and on Zoom for the School Budget Forum. As you learned, there is a very real cost to our children and their academic and professional future if we don’t act to fund the school district as requested. There is also a very real cost in our property tax bill to make that happen. It’s a tough reality for everyone to understand and make work for their family. But becoming informed and making it an informed decision is the most important part.
Below are links to allow you to listen to the presentation, read the presentation yourself and download and print your voting sheet for Monday’s meeting.
Zoom Presentation: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/zN3tOpDrn1lV6iY7sIku6E844OG_QoH4awLmf7-HiiOeDOrOq0X-jm6uOjMbk1Mr.ix4XzPzUYntqXzLv?startTime=1714603960000
Passcode: Cp4qA^xk
Presentation PDF: http://www.bmslink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SchoolBudgetForum-2024.pdf
Berlin Town Meeting Voting Sheet: http://www.bmslink.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/berlin-voting-cheatsheet-FY25.pdf
Also remember that LINK is working with the Tahanto National Honor Society to provide babysitting services in the BMS Cafeteria (across from the gym) during the town meeting. If you are going to bring your kids, please use the link below to sign-up!
Babysitting Sign-up: https://town-meeting-babysitting-sign-up.cheddarup.com
UPDATE (5/3): Careful review of the town warrant demonstrates that fully funding our schools does NOT mean that we will go beyond the “Maximum Allowed Budget” (this is the calculation of our levy limit amount plus the excess levy capacity). Therefore, while our taxes will go up to pay for the schools, they will not go up beyond 5.2%. (pg 22 of the warrant).
We know there has been much talk about hitting and exceeding the levy limit and it’s cost to our tax payers, but that simply isn’t the truth.
- We WILL be within the levy limit with a fully funded school system.
- Our children CAN receive the education they need for their futures.
- Our taxes will not be permanently impacted.
This also means that the vote for funding our school system can NOT “move to ballot.” Appropriation of funds happens at the town meeting. Only if that appropriation pushes the budget beyond the maximum allowed budget can the payment of that budget be moved to ballot.
We vote to amend the budget and accept the recommended BBRSD FY25 budget. And we’re done Monday night. Show up. Vote. See you there!
See you all at the Town Meeting on Monday, May 6th at 7:30pm in the BMS Gym!!