ARUNDEL — Withdrawal from RSU 21 could leave
Arundel taxpayers paying more in the years to come, an expert hired by
the town told officials and audience members Tuesday night.
"Leaving
the RSU would systematically disadvantage Arundel," Charles Lawton,
consultant from Planning Decisions, said at the Oct. 2 joint Withdrawal
Committee and Board of Selectmen meeting, held at Mildred L. Day School.
The net result of the analysis, Lawton said, is
that a solely Arundel budget — including amortization for a $4.5
million dollar renovation project at Mildred L. Day school, and
maintenance of existing programs — would cost the taxpayers of Arundel
just over $5.4 million with a local assessed value of $13.77 for every
$1,000 in property value.
By comparison, the
taxpayers of Arundel would pay just under $5.4 million dollars under a
cost sharing agreement based on 60 percent property value and 40 percent
student population, including the town's share of the amortization for
the full $57.5 million proposed capital improvement program to renovate
district schools. That would result in a local assessed value $13.63 per
every $1,000 local taxable property value.
However,
if the new capital improvement program were allocated on a 90 percent
property, 10 percent student population basis, the local cost would drop
to just over $5.1 million and the cost per $1,000 local taxable
property value would drop to $12.86.
But Lawton's numbers are not fool-proof, he warned.
"This
is largely an exercise in understanding the rules of the game. I will
not and do not recommend one option or the other," Lawton said.
November is just around the corner and soon Arundel residents will learn if it was truly about the money or was it something else. The information from Mr. Lawton seems pretty cut and dry, he has no stakes in this town one way or the other. I hope that all those residents who said that if its shown that there will be no cost savings, they would change their vote and stay with the RSU. I hope they stand by their word and do what's best for our childrens' education.
ReplyDeleteWell said.
DeleteI am very concerned that the information was not posted on the town website. Why? The information that was at the meeting was in draft copy, and had draft all over it. There was a question regarding the building renovations, and if the figures were correct as pointed out by several board members. The building renovations are such a big issue, because we will be spending a lot in taxes. Lawton said that it was cheaper, but with the questions that were raised at the meeting I am not so sure. I think Arundel needs to be prepared for the worst case scenario.
ReplyDeleteWhat ever the final numbers are I am going to cast my vote based on those numbers. I hope everyone else does to.
Our family is part of the "conservative few" who are saving Arundel residents money by sending them to Kennebunk. Feel free to thank us when your paying YOUR tax bills this week :)
ReplyDeleteAfter viewing the full final report, I will be thanking those who knew the real figures. The report is on the town website, and the financial facts are clear, withdraw or pay double for renovations.
DeleteIt's time for Velma Hayes, and Dana Peck to hit the road.
It is unbelievable the amount of effort that some people put in to make others feel terrible. Your sny sarcasm has bitten you in the butt.
We mustn't be reading the same report...no where does it say we'll be paying double if we stay!
DeleteYou may not like the outcome, but you can't change the report to suit you.
I understand if you don't like what was reported. You still don't have to vote to stay with the RSU, but now you have to be honest with yourself that it's not about the money. Its about which school your loyalties fall with.
Please if you are going to quote the report, do so correctly. We will not pay double if we stay in the RSU. Table 10 is a debt service table not a budget table. It will cost us less to stay in the RSU. Read the conclusions at the end. All will be explained at the public forum on Wednesday, October 10th.
DeleteIt has become apparent the pro withdrawal people will say just about anything to scare the residents of Arundel. This really has to stop. The future of Arundel is at stake, the education of our children and the valuations of our homes.
Dear 'Double Paying Anonymous' - it is clear you are either in a heavy state of denial, or you're not good with math. In any event, the consultant said that to withdraw from the RSU would 'systematically disadvantage' Arundel.
DeleteThat means that not *just* education would be affected negatively by withdrawal, but all financial aspects would be as well. Your taxes would go up, services would go away, and education would suffer.
If a good education and an affordable town to live in mean nothing to you, carry on with your mathematical delusion. You may want to stock up on Vaseline for the next time the tax bill comes around, though.
I think it is funny now the numbers are not for withdrawal that your group should come out and say what this is all about a sub par private school two towns away I would not send my kids to if it was the only school in the state I would tuition them to Massachusetts.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Arundel votes to stay with RSU21 with the next step getting Diane Robbins off of a school board. Talk about an incompentent whack job.
ReplyDelete