BY SARAH LEBRUN
After a property revaluation in 2006 brought larger tax bills to Hopkinton taxpayers, 765 residents turned out at the Hopkinton School District Meeting on March 10 to ensure their taxes didn’t increase anymore than necessary this year.
And, according to Deputy Town Clerk Sandi Babson, this was a large turnout, as usually approximately 300 residents attend the annual meeting.
After three hours of debate and two proposed amendments to Article 3, the school operating budget, voters accepted a $14,970,359 budget, the amount originally set forth by the budget committee.
The first proposed amendment to Article 3 was made by Hopkinton School Board Chairman Marshall Rowe, to increase the budget amount to $15,110,755.
“We believe the budget (the school board has) presented is the most responsible in addressing the needs of the students and the needs of the taxpayers,” said Rowe.
Voters rejected this amendment by ballot vote, 487-225.
“Let the school board figure out where to make the cuts,” said resident David Lancaster of the Hopkinton-Contoocook Taxpayers Association.
The second proposed amendment came from school board candidate Peter Yunich to reduce the amount set by the budget committee by $125,000, making the new amount $14,845,359.
“We need to run our schools like we run our households,” said school board candidate Marion Paxton. “We have limited resources. If you make $50,000 a year, you don’t go out and spend $65,000.”
But not all residents shared her view.
“Look around this gymnasium,” said resident Dave French, motioning to championship sports banners on the walls. “Because of these cuts, we might have to cut some sports.”
Residents rejected this amendment by ballot vote as well, 395-295.
Voters also spent an hour debating Article 2, requesting $372,000 for replacement of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and 48 single-pane windows at Harold Martin School, an additional parking lot at Harold Martin School, and a modular unit and security system at the high school.
Seeing the need for some of these improvements, but not all, a motion was made to break Article 2 into four separate articles.
Article 2A asked for $260,000 to replace the HVAC system and 48 single-pane windows at Harold Martin School, with $100,000 coming from the school building repair and maintenance trust fund.
“Stale air is exhausted through vents in one of the bathrooms (at the school),” said school board member Larry Donahue.
Voters accepted Article 2A.
Article 2B asked for $75,000 for an additional parking lot at Harold Martin School.
“I was told there would be five, maybe six, times this extra parking would be needed,” said resident Merle Dustin.
Residents rejected this article, along with Article 2C, asking for $27,000 for a modular unit at the high school; and Article 2D, asking for $10,000 for a security system at the high school.
Other articles
Residents also supported:
• Article 4, asking for $50,000 for a general contingency fund to meet the cost of unanticipated expenses that may arise during the school year.
• Article 5, asking voters for approval to withdraw $55,938 from the school building repair and maintenance trust fund for repairs at Hopkinton High, Maple Street and Harold Martin schools.
• Article 6, asking voters for approval to withdraw $50,000 from the year-end undesignated fund balance and deposit it into the educating educationally disabled children trust fund.
• Article 8, a petitioned article, asking for $400 to purchase audio recording equipment and materials.