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This story appeared on Page A3 of The
Standard-Times on May 16, 2005
Quinn working to ease Voc-Tech burden on towns
By CURT BROWN, Standard-Times staff writer
Dartmouth Democrat Rep. John F. Quinn has sponsored
a measure aimed at getting financial relief for
Dartmouth and Fairhaven from their skyrocketing
assessments for Greater New Bedford Regional
Vocational-Technical High School in New Bedford.
Under his proposal, which passed last week as part
of the House budget, both towns would be eligible to
apply for grants from the state Department of
Education. The purpose of Rep. Quinn's amendment is
to ease problems associated with a new state
Department of Education formula for determining
local assessments.
He said the amendment applies to communities whose
vocational educational assessments have climbed more
than 20 percent over the past few years. These
communities are eligible to apply for some of the
$2.5 million in the state's so-called educational
pothole account.
"It's an emergency fund for unique situations," he
said.
The new formula, which includes local growth as part
of its calculations, has caused Dartmouth's
assessment to rise significantly.
"The formula is not perfect," he said. "There must
be a way to smooth out the potholes in it."
He said Dartmouth and Fairhaven, along with
Somerset, which is part of the Greater Fall River
Regional Vocational-Technical High School district,
are all eligible to apply.
Dartmouth's assessment for fiscal year 2006 is more
than $1 million. Its assessment in 2005 was $658,324
and its assessment in 2004 was $444,815.
Dartmouth officials have complained its student
population has remained virtually the same the past
two years, but its assessment rose 48 percent in
fiscal 2005 and 53 percent in fiscal 2006.
"One hundred and one percent over two years is
totally unacceptable," said Jreck P. Leduc, chairman
of the Dartmouth Select Board. "We can't afford it
and it greatly limits our options.
"The calculations are unfair. New Bedford has 80
percent of the students and 20 percent of the costs.
We have 20 percent of the students and 80 percent of
the costs.
"We need to correct that calculation that the state
uses as opposed to a one-year solution."
In fiscal 2006, Dartmouth will have 157 students at
GNB Voc-Tech; New Bedford will have 1,513. New
Bedford's assessment for fiscal 2006 will be $2.2
million.
Jeffrey W. Osuch, executive secretary to the
Fairhaven Board of Selectmen, said that town's
assessments have also risen dramatically.
He said Fairhaven will have 213 students in fiscal
year 2006 and its assessment will be $1.1 million.
Fairhaven's assessment in fiscal 2005 was $736,624
and its assessment in fiscal 2004 was $593,696.
"That's a huge impact," Mr. Osuch said. "The whack
is limited revenue and we're faced with huge
increases.
"In four years (the assessment) has doubled and our
enrollment hasn't doubled or come anywhere near
that."
He added Fairhaven officials have also been told to
expect increases of approximately $250,000 in their
vocational educational assessment in each of the
next two years.
Rep. Quinn said his amendment needs Senate approval
and Gov. Mitt Romney's signature before it becomes
law.
Rep. Quinn's amendment gives communities whose
assessment have risen more than 20 percent "a
preference" in the distribution of funds from the
Department of Education's "pothole account."
If approved, communities would compete for whatever
funds are in the account and the Department of
Education would distribute the aid as grants.
"It's competition, but we have a preference in the
competition," Rep. Quinn said.
"That's the downside of this," Dartmouth's Director
of Finance and Budget Edward F. Iacaponi said of the
competition aspect. "At least it's a window to get
us through '06."
This story appeared on Page A3 of The
Standard-Times on May 16, 2005 |
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