Trash fee last option on funding school budget
Published on April 16th, 2008
STONEHAM, MA - The Selectmen chastised School Committee veteran Marie Christie last week for suggesting that their stance on the trash fee threatened the educational well-being of Stoneham's children.
During a regular meeting last Tuesday, Christie implored the Selectmen to reconsider a February vote against reinstating the $170 garbage charge without an agreement with municipal unions to join the state's Group Insurance Commission (GIC).
Town Administrator David Ragucci has estimated that Stoneham would save $1 million next year alone, if the town's employees agreed to join the state health benefits pool.
The School Committee member, the most tenured elected official on the education board, addressed the Selectmen just after they agreed to pipe nearly $200,000 worth of additional funding into the FY'09 school budget.
According to Christie, the extra money wasn't enough to prevent catastrophic changes to the district, which will likely include the elimination of all high school athletics, a high probability that Stoneham high will lose its accreditation, and the loss of at least 14 teachers and staff members.
The Stoneham Public Library would also face severe cuts - even with an extra $100,000 in cash granted last week - should a refuse charge not be re-imposed.
“Again this year, we're up here fighting for the survival of the school system. The level-funded budget that you're submitting for us is devastating,” said Christie.
“We just can't keep cutting this school system. We're having parents taking kids out of our schools and sending them to private [institutions]. Enough is enough,” the School Committee veteran warned. “For $170 a household, you're tearing apart a school system and a library, which are so vital to a community.”
Selectman Robert Sweeney, the most tenured member of his board, later blasted Christie for resorting to what he considered the type of finger pointing that divided the town in years past.
According to the veteran selectman, no town official was voluntarily opting to create havoc with the Stoneham school system.
Sweeney also took particular exception to the reference to the proposed zero-funded athletic budget in FY'09, a pitch that drew widespread media attention and criticism last year.
“We're not tearing apart anything. We're doing the best we can with what we have,” Sweeney shot-back. We didn't want to cut anything, but we have decisions to make.”
“Probably, Fox 25 is on their way down I-93 right now. So tomorrow morning, in front of our houses, we'll all have newspeople. This is what we don't need. We need to work together,” the selectman added.
In a surprising development, Sweeney indicated a willingness to reverse his stance on the trash fee, but only before all other options were exhausted.
In particular, the Selectman pointed out that the town had until June 30 to deliberate on the garbage charge.
“June 30, that will be the time I'm standing with you and saying, 'This is crazy; we can't live like this,'” the town official said.
Selectman Paul Rotondi later noted that last year, the School Committee agreed to split all new revenues equally between the municipal and school sectors.
However, because of the nature of the reductions being recommended thus far, Town Administrator David Ragucci had advocated for giving the library and school system nearly all of the anticipated $394,000 in additional state aid allotments.
“We signed the Stoneham plan a year ago that said e would split-up everything 50-50. Well, we're not. We're giving you more than anybody else. We're trying to deal with the situation as it is,” said Rotondi.
Christie responded that she was not trying to divide the town or point fingers, but rather advocate for the school system, which was facing serious program cuts next year.
The School Committee veteran also emphasized that she was willing to work together with the Selectmen to find possible solutions to the financial crunch.
“I just want you to know what the ramifications of your budget are,” Christie said.
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!