eConnections

In passing Act 82 in 2007, the legislature and the Governor created a mandate for local school districts: Effective for FY2010 school budgets, any proposal to spend over an amount calculated by a mathematical formula will require two separate votes from the local voters in order to pass their local school budget.

Just before town meeting, the House voted in a 99-38 roll call to repeal the two-vote mandate and, instead, lower what is called the “excess spending threshold.”  This is the percentage over the statewide average at which a local school district is penalized with a higher tax rate. 

Currently, state law imposes penalties on taxpayers in districts spending 25 percent above the statewide average; under the provision passed by the House that would be lowered over three years to 20 percent.

The legislation is now in the Senate, where it is not clear what will happen with the proposal.

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