Bow News : budget

Bow Town Meeting heads for round two

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:04:00 GMT

Bucking the Town Meeting trend from recent years, Bow voters decided to add money to the operating budget rather than directing selectmen to make significant cuts.

On Wednesday, May 13, residents filled the Bow High School auditorium to vote on the warrant, but the meeting was tabled after four hours of debate that covered only three of the 24 items scheduled for discussion.

The first task voters tackled was the operating budget, which came in at a proposed total of $8,097,886.

Early on in the discussion, an amendment was proposed that would increase the budget by $11,000 to make up for the funds eliminated from Baker Free Library’s collection development fund.

“The library is very important with this economy,” said Baker Free Library Director Lori Fisher. “We have seen more patrons in need of our resources. Please allow us to continue to serve you.”

Voters responded to Fisher’s plea, passing the amendment.

Soon after, another amendment was proposed regarding the operating budget, as Jim Hoffman gave a presentation requesting his fellow voters trim the figure to an even $8 million.

“We’ve seen this request before,” said one voter. “If you want to request a cut, tell us exactly where you wish the 27cut to be.” Board of Selectmen Chairman Leon Kenison echoed this sentiment.

“It’s only fair that anyone who proposes a cut notify us where it should come from so you know the consequences,” said Kenison. By a 310-80 ballot vote, the amendment was rejected and the budget passed with an increase of $11,000 over the Budget Committee’s recommended total.

The next item up for discussion was not as well received, as voters rejected the proposed pay-as-you-throw program, designed to increase recycling and potentially save the town money.

Dee Treybig and members of the recycling committee introduced the program, which would have gone into effect beginning in October.

“This is simple,” said resident Marie Daniels. “It’s the right thing to do. The $5 or $10 savings is secondary.”

Residents were skeptical of the convenience of the program, and it was rejected 225-135.

The final issue addressed before the meeting was put on hold was a cost of living increase that was given to town employees, a 2.25 percent increase for a total sum of about $73,000.

On Wednesday, May 27, the meeting will continue at 7 p.m. at Bow High School.

$8 million budget up for approval in Bow

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:19:00 GMT

By MATT SCHOOLEY

After two consecutive years of trimming the operating budget on the Town Meeting floor, Bow residents will be asked to approve a budget lower than last year’s during the upcoming vote.

On Wednesday, May 13, at 7 p.m., at Bow High School, voters will be asked to approve several key items, including a budget of about $8 million.

Board of Selectmen Chairman Leon Kenison believes the recommended budget is within reason, given the current financial climate.

“We’ve had budget reductions over the last few years, so I think it’s in tune with that philosophy,” said Kenison. “We’re also looking at the state of the economy. We are trying 1to provide some modest tax relief.”

As Hopkinton’s Town Administrator, Kenison has also had experience with Article 5, a pay-as-you-throw program that was narrowly defeated recently during Hopkinton’s Town Meeting.

“There’s a slight difference, although the principles are the same,” Kenison said. “Hopkinton doesn’t have municipal pick-up of trash, Bow does. It motivates people to throw out less and recycle to the max while also saving the town some money.”

Article 6 asks voters to approve a 2.25 percent increase, about $73,000, for a cost-of-living increase wage adjustment for town employees; and Article 7 looks for $350,000 for road paving, an area that has suffered during recent budget cuts.

The Public Works Department will receive a new truck with a utility body and a plow if Article 18 is approved, a sum of $35,000 that would be withdrawn from the Public Works Department Equipment Capital Reserve Fund.

A three-fifths majority vote will be required if residents want to approve Article 3, which was submitted by petition. The article asks voters to approve a new format of town meeting, the official ballot voting known as SB-2.

With a variety of topics on the agenda for the meeting, the budget will likely be a hot topic again this year.

Kenison said if the budget is once again trimmed this year, the cuts will be more difficult to make.

“If somebody can convince the voters that other cuts are necessary, we have proven we can find where to make the cuts,” said Kenison. “It isn’t a good way to go about it. We’ve gone through this two times, and I am sure the third time we will be losing bodies and programs.”

Teacher raises OK’d in Bow

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:28:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Unlike other surrounding towns, Bow residents approved money for teacher raises at the recent School District Meeting, in addition to the remainder of the warrant.

During the Friday, March 13, meeting, voters approved the school’s $24.3 million operating budget, a decrease of slightly less than 1 percent from last year.

The budget reduced the estimated tax rate by 48 cents, while the new teacher contracts increased the rate by an estimated 29 cents, so in total the projected reduction on the town’s tax rate will be 19 cents per $1,000 assessed value.

Superintendent of Schools Dean Cascadden said he was happy with what he called a civil and well-attended meeting, and also with the passing of the contract.

“I wasn’t surprised, I was relieved. I didn’t think it was 100 percent going in, but it was a very good contract,” said Cascadden of the 2.25 percent raise.

“We worked very hard on those contracts, and some of the other areas that weren’t money areas were very important to us in the district.”

About 75 percent of the operating budget is made up of teacher salaries, and during the meeting the vote was not close, passing 332-119.

In school and town meetings in the recent past, voters have elected to make cuts in operating budgets, and while there was an amendment to do so again this year, it was voted down.

Cascadden said the approval of the budget was likely a sign from taxpayers that the recommended budget was within reason.

“In my mind, we tried very hard to come in with a reasonable budget that responded to the economic times,” said Cascadden.

“In light of the times, we had something responsible where people saw it may not have been down as much as they’d have liked, but they were able to see that it was something they could live with.”

SB-2 article on school warrant

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:50:00 GMT

BY SARAH LEBRUN

When Bow residents attend School District Meeting on March 13, they can expect to see a petitioned article for official ballot law, or SB-2, on the school district warrant.

According to Superintendent of Schools Dean Cascadden, this article will on the ballot in May and will not be voted on at the School District Meeting. There will also be a public hearing on this article prior to the May vote.

“I've worked in SB-2 districts previously, and I’m not taking a stand on it one way or the other,” said Cascadden.

“There are pluses and minuses to either one.” On the warrant is also a proposed operating budget of $24,408,702, down $800,858 from this year’s budget of $25,209,560.

Both figures include the yearly food services budget.

The tax impact would be a reduction of 48 cents per $1,000 assessed property value, or $96 on a $200,000 home.

According to Cascadden, the decrease in the budget is due to six staff cuts – two at the middle school and four at the high school. There are also a couple of unfilled support staff positions that were cut from the budget.

Cascadden said administrators were directed to come up with a zero or less-than-zero increase in the school budget this year. “We realize it’s time to reduce and come in as frugal as we can,” said Cascadden.

Residents will also have to vote on a one-year teachers’ contract for the 2009-10 school year.

Requested is $356,310 for raises for 153 teachers, guidance counselors, nurses, library staff and speech teachers.

The tax impact would be 29 cents per $1,000 assessed property value, or $58 on a $200,000 home. If this article is rejected, Article 5 requests one special meeting to address the teachers’ contract.

Also on the school district warrant are various articles asking for withdrawals from the Bow School District Capital Reserve Fund. The Bow School District Meeting takes place Friday, March 13, at 7 p.m., at Bow High School.

Changes in Bow bus routes go back to drawing board

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:23:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Following a public hearing about potential changes to school bus routes, Bow school officials are looking to rework the proposal that may save money on the budget voted on at the School District Meeting.

On Wednesday, Jan. 14, close to 100 residents attended the meeting, which proposed the elimination of two buses and several bus stops, a plan that was set to save the district about $40,000.

However, some residents felt the plan was unsafe for students, some of whom would be forced to walk longer distances on potentially dangerous roads.

“One of the things about Bow is that there aren’t a whole lot of sidewalks,” said Superintendent of Schools Dean Cascadden. “At the end of the meeting, the board made a decision that we’re going to go back to the drawing board. We need to take a step back and take a look at this in light of the input.”

Originally, the plan was to have the proposal voted on at the School District Meeting as a warrant article, but Cascadden said the School Board can’t commit to that just yet.

“The outside timeline is that we have to finalize our budgetary proposal by Feb. 9,” said Cascadden. “That’s the money part of it. We wouldn’t be implementing any new routes until next fall anyway, so we’re well ahead in terms of time.”

Cascadden stressed that the decision to rework the bus routes is not solely for financial reasons. Several residents voiced concern that the move would jeopardize the safety of children for only $40,000.

Currently there are 16 regular buses, 12 that go to Bow Elementary and Bow Memorial schools, two to the high school, and two that transport students to special education and vocational school venues.

“The genesis wasn’t let’s look to see how we can save money,” said Cascadden. “It was looking to see how we could make the system more equitable.”

School Board members will continue to discuss the issue, without a definite timeline.

“We aren’t ready to go forward with it as we had it,” said Cascadden. “I continue to see this as an issue to be discussed, but I can’t give a definitive what we’re going to do. We need to deal with the issues, and possibly come up with a new proposal.”

Bow selectman trim $481K from budget

Bow Editor — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:56:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The town will now be operating with a reduced budget, after selectmen decided what items to cut, as mandated by voters at the May Town Meeting.

The most noticeable cut in service will come at the transfer station, which was closed as of Saturday, June 28, saving the town about $96,000.

One cut that did not pass was a motion by Selectman Tom Keane, who proposed cutting the Bow Police Department by two full-time members.

Keane did not receive a second to his motion, and he changed the motion to propose a cut of one full-time position. The motion was defeated 3-2.

In total, the cuts will reach about $481,000 after voters chose to cut the operating budget for the second consecutive year, with some cuts made to cover increasing costs for fuel and road salt.

The cuts were completed at a Thursday, June 26, selectmen’s meeting after several weeks of discussion. At the previous meeting, the selectmen found all of the areas to make cuts, except about $31,000.

Following that meeting, Town Manager Jim Pitts met with department heads to arrive at the final amount. The cuts went into effect as of July 1.

“It certainly wasn’t easy. It was more difficult than last year,” said Pitts. “We already had last year’s cuts and now we’re looking at the impact of two years in a row.”

Selectmen Chairman Leon Kenison said the decision where to make cuts was not an easy one.

“I think the time it took us and the length of the discussions we had are indicative of how tough it is to reduce a budget,” said Kenison. “There’s no question, with the rising energy costs and other associated costs beyond our control, we are cutting back. That means reduced service levels.”

There were 22 items on the list of cuts, including a police cruiser, street sweeping, road paving and overtime.

Residents who had used the transfer station will be able to go to Concord’s station, where they will face slightly higher charges.

“Not everybody used the transfer station. The service is still available, but they’ll have to travel to the Concord Station,” said Pitts. “The fees will be higher, but if we hadn’t closed it we would have raised those fees to about that anyway.”

Kenison said if officials are forced to make cuts next year, jobs will likely be reduced.

“If we were undertake this again next year, there would be departments affected. I can’t see how we could do it without reducing some people,” said Kenison. “That would also mean further cuts in services and programs.”

Bow selectmen tackle cuts

Bow Editor — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:56:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Bow selectmen will begin trimming about $400,000 from the budget, combing through each of the town’s departments looking for cuts for a second straight year.

Board members will begin the process during a Thursday, June 12, meeting after residents voted at Town Meeting in May to trim the Budget Committee and Board of Selectmen’s proposed amounts.

Discussions were scheduled to begin June 5, but the meeting was canceled due to the conflicting schedules of board members.

“Nothing has happened. The selectmen canceled the first meeting because they couldn’t get a quorum,” said Town Manager Jim Pitts. “The target is to have it done by July 1, because that is when the new budget goes into effect.”

Selectmen Chairman Leon Kenison said last year’s cuts were made easier by a large amount that was eliminated during the process.

“Last year, we had a gold nugget in paving that we could eliminate. We don’t have that this year, and I don’t know what we’re going to do,” he said. “It won’t be easy and we didn’t get suggestions from those who were certain we could do this so easily without guidance. Most anything is on the table to start.”

Pitts agreed with Kenison that Bow residents will, for a second year in a row, see a decrease in certain areas.

“It’s a matter of identifying the services we normally provide that we’re not going to,” he said. “It’s up to the selectmen to decide where and when that will be.”

Following last year’s cuts, two of those services were several miles of scheduled paving and street lights, as the majority of the lights in town were shut off to conserve money.

“The hardest part is not being able to run through the regular budgetary process to talk to all of the departments,” said Kenison. “We’re given the charge of just doing it.”

According to Kenison, the structure of government needs to be looked at.

“We’re using the same government structure they were 250 years ago. We have to ask if this is appropriate in today’s economic and business structure,” said Kenison. “Would the candlemaker do it the same way we are? We need to maybe move onto some modifications, but that’s not for the next week or so.”

In terms of the budget cuts, Kenison said having to make them two consecutive years has made things difficult for selectmen.

“It is one pile on top of another,” he said. “I can tell you there will be some service cuts. There’s no fat left on this. It’s going to come up ugly to some for sure.”

Bow Town Meeting continues May 28

Bow Editor — Wed, 21 May 2008 19:19:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Bow’s Town Meeting outcome was similar to last year’s, as voters again decided to cut the budget by a significant amount. The May 14 meeting lasted until 11 p.m., with the budget and 13 other articles passing. Residents voted to continue discussion on the remaining articles during a second Town Meeting on Wednesday, May 28.

On May 14, voters approved an amendment to cut the budget from $8.3 to $7.9 million on a motion by resident Joe Mielcarz.

“I feel, as a resident of Bow, they are proposing a backbreaking budget, and I ask the voters to amend it,” Mielcarz said in front of attendees who half-filled Bow High School auditorium.

While introducing the budget, Selectman Jack Crisp said selectmen and the Budget Committee tried to keep the increase to a minimum, ending at an increase of about 8 percent.

“About 4.4 percent of the increases were out of the board’s control. If you hold the line, you have to find cuts. A status quo budget means a decrease in services,” he said.

Resident Mary Lee Sargent disagreed with Mielcarz’ amendment.

“I, for one, don’t want less roads paved. I don’t want less asphalt,” said Sargent. “Like everyone else, I don’t want to have increased taxes, but it’s reality. If I want the services, if I want the quality of life that I’m used to in Bow, I do not want us to have this scarcity thinking that we can’t pay for those services.”

During last year’s Town Meeting, selectmen came prepared with a budget of nearly $8.2 million, but then newly elected Selectman Tom Keane proposed to cut the budget to $7.7 million, an amendment that passed voter approval 114-89. As a result, town officials canceled paving plans last year and shut off many of the town’s streetlights, among other cuts.

“What I don’t see is unilateral support to acknowledge that we are in an economic crisis,” said resident Mark Smith. “You need to look at your own budget and see where you can cut corners and tighten up.”

The motion to amend the budget passed 175-130 by secret ballot. After further discussion, the amended budget passed 187- 108.

“We may have to cut services and there are some that can be cut,” said Mielcarz. “I make sacrifices, we all do. It’s time that we collectively make sacrifices. Maybe next year or the year after we can put that back in.”

Following the budget approval, voters addressed articles 24, 25 and 26 so the elderly residents in attendance would not have to stay until the articles would be discussed.

The articles, which dealt with property tax exemptions for the elderly, disabled and legally blind, all passed.

As a result of last year’s budget cuts, town officials decided to hold Bow’s road paving schedule for the year. During this year’s meeting, voters approved Article 5, which asked for $365,000 to pave 3.5 miles of roads, an impact of 30 cents per $1,000 of property valuation – the equivalent of $30 for the owner of a $300,000 home.

Voters also OK’d replacing a 1990 pumper truck for the Fire Department out of a capital reserve fund by passing Article 4, in addition to two dump trucks for $280,000 with the approval of Article 6.

Articles 7, 8 and 9 were approved, adding $210,000 to the highway construction capital reserve fund and Public Works Department equipment capital reserve fund, as well as $160,000 to the fire truck capital reserve fund.

After approving Article 10 to purchase a fire rescue truck for $130,000 out of a previously established fund, Article 11 passed by a standing vote, 89-54 to fix the culvert and retaining walls on Garvin Falls Road with no tax impact.

The final votes during the evening came on Article 12, to add $60,000 to the fire rescue equipment capital reserve fund, and Article 13, to approve a cycled property valuation update.

When 11 p.m. came, residents and selectmen were discussing purchasing self-contained breathing apparatus equipment, but the article was postponed until the second half of the meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 28, at the Bow High School auditorium.

$8.3M Bow budget goes to vote May 14

Bow Editor — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:11:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

At Bow’s Town Meeting last year, residents voted to cut the operating budget significantly. This year, town officials will ask voters to increase the 2008-09 budget about $602,000 over last year.

This year, both the Budget Committee and Board of Selectmen agreed on the proposed operating budget of about $8.3 million, compared to last year’s budget of $7.7 million when Selectman Tom Keane’s floor amendment was approved 114-89.

Town Manager Jim Pitts said he knows there could be more motions to cut the budget this year at the Wednesday, May 14, Town Meeting, beginning at 7 p.m., at Bow High School.

“I don’t doubt there will be some motions from the floor, and that’s the taxpayers’ right to do that,” said Pitts. “I hope they’re prepared to identify what service they are proposing we could do without.”

After last year’s cuts, town officials were forced to cut services such as non-emergency paving and street lights, something Pitts said was hard to do.

“It was very difficult for the selectmen to arrive at the decision of what to cut. We were cutting services that had been routinely part of our town budget,” he said. “Generally speaking, the budget going to Town Meeting is extremely realistic. While the operating budget is up from last year, it in essence is restoring that cut from last year.”

Budget Committee members estimate an increase in the total town portion of the tax rate to be 83 cents per $1,000 assessed property value over last year, if all warrant articles pass.

An 83 cent increase in the rax rate would result in a bill of $250 more than last year for the owner of a $300,000 home.

Originally, selectmen and the Budget Committee had budgets differing by $15,000, but the Budget Committee voted to restore that amount to the library’s section of the budget, leaving the two proposals equal.

“We were concerned that if we don’t continue to contribute to the book collection, there would be a negative impact,” said Budget Committee Chairman Dan De Vasto. “We want to make sure that we have enough to provide the level of service that the people in town have grown accustomed to.”

Pitts said town officials were cognizant of the difficult economic times while constructing the proposed budget.

“I can understand the pain of voting to increase your tax, particularly when the economy’s in the shape it is. Almost 5 percent of the increase is caused by external costs that we can’t control,” he said. “They’re dealing with the increase of diesel and gasoline, and so are we. If you hold us to the same number of dollars as last year, you’re actually imposing a cut because we can do less and pay less than the year before.”

$15K for Bow library budget OK'd

Bow Editor — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:42:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

After hearing from library trustees at a recent public hearing about the operating budget, Bow Budget Committee members decided to return $15,000 to the budget for the Baker Free Library.

By a 4-3 vote after the public hearing, Budget Committee members brought the recommended budget to the same number as the selectmen’s recommendation – about $8.3 million. If passed, the operating budget will have an estimated tax rate increase of 66 cents per $1,000 assessed property valuation, or about $198 over last year for the owner of a home assessed at $300,000.

If all warrant articles pass, Budget Committee members estimate an additional increase of 17 cents per $1,000 assessed property valuation. Both the budget and warrants would bring the total town portion of the tax rate to about 83 cents per $1,000 assessed property value over last year – a spike of $250 for the owner of a $300,000 home.

Originally, the Budget Committee wanted to remove $10,000 for the book collection and $5,000 for the salary of the new library director to replace Linda Kling, who retired in March.

During the public hearing, library trustees came to the defense of the library, and Budget Committee members reconsidered their recommendation and agreed with the sentiment.

Last year, the operating budget was cut during Town Meeting, and many departments in town suffered. The library was one of them, as they elected not to use money for the book collection during the year.

“We made cuts to the books. You can do that for a year, but your collection will suffer and you’ll end up with big holes in the collection if you continually cut from your book funding,” said Library Trustee Susan Hatem. “There’s always a juggling process, and you just try to save money where ever you can, and at the same time meet the demands that the public has been asking for.”

July will mark the two-year anniversary of Baker Free Library extending its hours to six days per week and, Hatem said, having the $15,000 in the budget is crucial, especially during a difficult economic time.

“What we tried to get across, and the Budget Committee seemed to agree, is that the library is the jewel of the community,” said Hatem. “Everyone from young children to senior citizens can use it. In times when the economy is bad, the library becomes even more important. People use the library for job searching, and just to get out and clear their head and think.”

Residents will vote on the budget and warrant articles at Town Meeting, Wednesday, May 14, at 7 p.m. in the Bow High School auditorium.

Bow budget hikes taxes

Bow Editor — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:50:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

In the aftermath of last year’s budget cuts when selectmen turned off 222 street lights in Bow, voters are now faced with a proposed budget that’s up about $602,000 from last year.

This year’s warrant articles go to voters at the Bow Town Meeting Wednesday, May 14, at 7 p.m., at Bow High School.

The warrants, discussed at a Wednesday, April 9, public hearing held by the Budget Committee, will include 30 articles.

Voters will see two recommended operating budgets, one from the Board of Selectmen and the other from the Budget Committee, with a difference of $15,000. Selectmen recommended, by a 3-2 vote, to support an $8,332,912 budget, while the Budget Committee’s recommended budget, by a 4-3 vote, is $8,317,912.

At the April 9 public hearing, Budget Committee Chairman Dan de Vasto told the 40 residents in attendance about the situation the town faces.

“Everyone is cognizant of keeping things down and not cutting our throats in the process,” said de Vasto. “Some think we can spend more, some think we can spend less. We try to find a happy medium.”

A large portion of the crowd at the public hearing were members of the Fire Department, as five of the warrant articles to be voted on at Town Meeting involve fire and rescue.

The Fire Department is proposing the purchase of a pumper truck, which will have no tax impact as the money will be taken from a capital reserve fund, if the article is approved.

In addition, voters will be asked to put $160,000 in the fire truck capital reserve fund and purchase a new fire truck to replace one that has been in use since 1984.

The purchase of self-contained breathing apparatuses will depend on whether the article is approved because the latter asks voters to put $60,000 into a capital reserve fund used for rescue equipment.

In addition to the self-contained breathing equipment that would be purchased if approved, residents will be asked to allow the Police Department to purchase a $32,000 special utility vehicle, using the remainder of the rescue equipment fund.

“I think it’s very important for voters to support these articles. It’s for their protection. We’ve maintained the equipment for years now, and it’s simply time for new equipment,” said Bow Fire Chief Dana Abbott.

Other than the operating budget, the item with the biggest tax impact will be $365,000 for road paving, an item that will mean a 31 cent tax increase per $1,000 assessed property valuation.

If approved, the proposed operating budget would have a $3.99 increase on the town rate per $1,000 assessed property valuation. That means the owner of a $300,000 home would see an increase of about $1,197 over last year.

If the 10 warrant articles with tax impact are approved, that same owner would pay an additional $1,467 in taxes. De Vasto said after seeing the action at last year’s meeting, he hopes to see a larger crowd at the May 14 Town Meeting.

“I’m only hoping that based on last year’s activities, more voters will come and express their opinions on things,” he said. “There’s a philosophy of a large number of people who feel there should be no increase at all. Using that as a yard stick to measure, most of these things will be controversial to some people.”

Voters favor budget committee plan over board's

admin — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:00:00 GMT

The third time was a charm as Bow residents rejected two school district operating budgets before approving the Budget Committee’s recommendation, which requires the School Board to make cuts.

During the Friday, March 14, annual School District Meeting, residents packed the Bow High School auditorium and debated the operating budget for more than three hours before approving a budget of about $24.8 million – $152,000 less than the school board’s proposal.

The Budget Committee’s budget passed 274-104 by ballot vote after the School Board’s was rejected 259-165.

One resident proposed an amendment to leave the budget at $23.4 million, the same amount as the 2007-08 budget, but that amendment failed 270-125.

When the motion was made to keep the budget with no increase, School Board member Warren Fargo said it would have a negative impact on the town.

“We have to be cautious when making cuts that would destroy a positive in the community, and that is the school district,” said Fargo. “You have to look at strengths. To cut the school district to this level would be devastation.”

Resident Scott Lucas said the budget came down to wants.

“When we talk about cutting programs, so what?” said Lucas. “The problem with America is that we want more than we can afford to pay for. Do we have to have it all? What if we cut with priority? If you keep wanting it all, be prepared to pay.”

Vivian Knezevich, who said she moved to town for its education system, spoke in favor of a higher budget.

“Quality education costs a lot of money and a lot of the reason many of us live here us for the education this district provides,” said Knezevich. “It sounds silly, but our kids are our future and we need to pay to make sure that happens. We need help with our future.”

Residents were outspoken throughout the evening, and early on resident Van Mosher was nearly asked to leave the meeting after getting into a heated exchange with Moderator Jim Hatem.

Mosher interrupted the moderator on multiple occasions before Hatem banged his gavel, saying Mosher was out of order.

At one point during the exchange, Mosher felt Hatem was editorializing his motion and voiced his displeasure for Hatem.

“Mr. moderator, my motion is that you follow the rules,” he said. “The secretary of state would be very interested in what you’re doing right now.”

The School Board has not yet decided where the cuts will be made, although some potential areas mentioned have been the school to career program, gifted and talented, athletic trainer and sports.

All of the articles at the meeting passed, including the approval of $92,000 for increases in salaries and benefits, $154,000 for a five-year lease and purchase agreement on two school buses, $156,000 to replace the wooden siding at Bow Elementary School, $16,000 to make improvements on the patio area at Bow High School, and $80,000 for several paving improvements to Bow Memorial and Elementary schools.

Also, voters agreed to add up to $60,000 to the district’s Capital Reserve Fund and $40,000 to the paving Capital Reserve Fund, both which will come from any surplus at the end of the current year budget.

Although the meeting was well-attended, with nearly every seat in the auditorium full, a large number of residents left after the operating budget was passed around 10:30 p.m.

School budget trimmed

Bow Editor — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:47:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The Bow School District lowered the increase on its latest budget, which was given to the Budget Committee in early January.

The working budget as of Dec. 20 included a 5.13 percent increase over the previous year, but board members worked to trim additional funds.

Including capital reserve amounts, the total increase given to the Budget Committee is now 4.54 percent, or $24,542,914.

According to Duane Ford, School District business administrator, excluding the capital reserve and a bus lease warrant article, the operating budget increase would be 3.65 percent, or $24,318,744.

Ford said because the actual proposed operating budget has not been set, the tax rate cannot be determined yet. Returned surplus, if any, would also change the rate, he said.

Part of the reason for the decrease in the second budget is the cut of two full-time staff positions as well as a part-time position.

In the original working budget, board members had written in one position cut, but after analyzing declining enrollment numbers they decided a second staff slot could be cut as well.

One of the cuts will come from Bow Memorial School’s fifth grade, where there are now six teachers, a number too high to deal with next year’s students who have been taught by five fourth-grade teachers.

“In total, K through 12 we will be two full-time teachers less next year, although we have not yet determined specifically what positions those will be,” said Ford. “At the high school, it’s tough because the kids can choose what classes they want to take. So if we want to reduce a person, we have to first see how many kids are signed up for classes.”

Bow sends out contracts to its teachers in April, which is when administrators will being looking at what positions will not be brought back.

The high school was a good area for a position cutback because, according to Ford, enrollment numbers have fallen from a peak of 1,820 in 2002 to the current number of 1,700 students.

Ford also said this year’s senior class includes 171 students, with only 126 eighth-graders who will be moving onto the high school next year.

In addition to the position cutbacks, $20,000 of equipment was removed from the working budget, and the board reduced some of the funding for the summer special education program to reduce money.

Setting the budget is a lengthy process, according to Ford. “We kept everybody together for two days so they could hear what the other buildings had requested. That way they were able to get a sense of where everybody was at,” said Ford. “The board was comfortable with the originally proposed budget, and they are comfortable with the budget now presented.”

Bow school budget up 5 percent

Bow Editor — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:12:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Although the Bow School Board’s proposed 2008 budget is slightly higher than last year’s, board members are still working to lower the figures to ease taxpayer burden.

As of now, the number sits at $24.6 million – an increase of 5.13 percent over last year’s budget of $23.5 million – but, according to school business administrator Duane Ford, board members are hoping to lower the increase before officially handing the budget over to the Budget Committee on Jan. 2.

Ford also said the 5 percent increase is a necessary step to continue running the schools. “A big part of our budget is salary and benefits,” he said. “If you look at just those two items, that is 76 percent of the budget. So when you look at increases, that’s where they’re mostly tied up.”

In addition to that 76 percent of the current proposal, 9 percent of the budget comes from purchased services, 6 percent in supplies, 6 percent in equipment and another 8 percent in miscellaneous needs.

This year’s proposed budget increase is in line with previous changes Ford has seen.

“It’s been higher in a few of the years I’ve been here. I’ve also seen lower than that, but it’s usually been around that or higher,” he said. “We’ll be lower than we’ve been in the last couple of years.”

After handing in the official figures to the Budget Committee on Jan. 2, the School Board then meets with them Jan. 10 to discuss the budget and set the figure before the School District budget meeting, which takes place at some point after Feb. 10.

Dark to light – Bow reasseses decision to turn off street lights

Bow Editor — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:25:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

After concerned residents packed the Bow Board of Selectmen meeting last Thursday, board members are going to reassess their decision to shut off 60 percent of the street lights in town.

Board members, who made the move to save about $25,000 as they were forced to make budget cuts in many areas, are not considering turning all of the lights on, according to Town Manager Jim Pitts, as it will cost $18 to turn each light back.

“We are looking at the decision again to a point. The selectmen asked me to identify the intersections where the lights being out is a problem,” he said. “We may look at the possibility of turning the lights on at all intersections rather than the ones identified previously as dangerous.”

Pitts said last week’s meeting may have brought together a large number of angry residents, but at no point did it get out of hand.

“Last Thursday’s meeting was civil,” he said. “There was no shouting or pounding on the table. The residents that were there stated their opinions. What they need to be able to understand is that street lights aren’t the only place we made the cuts.
Every department was hit.”

The street light debate has sparked another issue in town. The reason many residents were upset was they felt blindsided by the decision. However, those on the other side of the argument say the issue was played out in a very public way.

For most selectmen meetings, there are only two or three residents in attendance, according to Pitts. Though the street light issue has raised town interest for the time being, Pitts said that interest might fade.

“The selectmen would prefer good crowds, it makes their job easier,” he said. “I’ve been involved in municipal management for 20 years, and in my experience, people aren’t coming to meetings unless they are excited about something.”

Martin Legg, a resident of Bow, began circulating a petition to get the street lights turned back on and brought it before the town.

“There were a lot of neighbors who wanted the lights back on, and not everyone can go to meetings,” he said. “Personally, I don’t care. I am just concerned for the kids.”

Although Legg has been involved in the street light cause, he said he doesn’t often attend meetings.

“I don’t care to (attend meetings). I think there is a lot of garbage and a lot that goes on is a waste of time,” he said.

Another resident, Rob Duval, who has spoken out over the recent events, is not concerned about the lights as much as he is the number of people who said they weren’t aware of the decision.

“Not many people go to town meetings,” he said. “The way I feel is if you aren’t going to go, then don’t complain. The lights haven’t bothered me at all, personally. They chose to make this decision and they made it public.”

Duval said the petition that was formulated indicated residents were upset because they felt they should not have to go to
the meeting to find out what is going on in town.

“I think that’s a poor attitude,” he said. “If you are going to be involved, you have to go not just when you’re a victim.”