the B-R School budgets
March 1, 2005
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
You can do something!
Many discuss the B-R School, and use the published figure of $54+M. (I have on this site.) This figure is the bottom line, and is the quoted figure from the Administration. However, for residents of Bridgewater and Raynham, the vote at Town Meetings will not be to fund to this level. Technically, it is the total appropriation from the towns to B-R, however a portion of this figure is outside of educational spending.
The part I will talk about now is for the 8000-Debt Service (Bonds & BANS) category. For last year, 2004-05, the total budget is discussed as $45,329,039. However the funding for $2,245,700 for Bonds and BANS is a separate transaction for the towns. This money is for costs associated with previously approved Capital Improvements (new schools and/or renovations). The two Town Treasurers will account for these costs separate from operational budget issues. Therefore, when this money is removed from the figure, the budget is now $43,083,339. For next year, 2005-06, the published budget of $54,098,039 should similarly be reduced by the Bond/BAN costs of $3,364,416 resulting in a budget of $50,733,623.
So, if these items are excluded from this year and projected next year, the budget is actually increasing by $7,650,284 or 17.8% (vs. previously released/discussed $8,769,615 or 19.3%).
There are other areas of the budget that fit into this same circumstance - such as rentals for the modulars - however the Bonds/BAN category is a major item. Again, Bridgewater and Raynham are going to fund that $3,364,616 in Bond/BAN costs, it is just going to occur outside of the operational budget discussions at Spring Town Meeting.
