To the Editor:
If broad support of education is a goal of our society, then we are not achieving our objectives. Aggregate education costs are escalating yet populations are declining. Fewer taxpayers can cover costs, thus, we must ensure they are being shared equitably. This is the problem.
Having served as chair of the Great Barrington Finance Committee, people have asked, why are our taxes so high? Many are revolting. According to GB’s Master Plan, nearly half of our home owners and 2/3rds of our renters are spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing. Thus, for most, Great Barrington is already “unaffordable.”
Comparative unaffordability is clearly shown in the tax rates of the 3 towns in the Berkshire Hills Regional School District (BHRSD):
Tax rates due to municipal services range closely between $4.50 – $6.30, shown in the solid sections above. However, there are great disparities between the school assessments (striped area).[1]
Great Barrington carries the heaviest load. For FY2016, of the $14.29 tax levy per $1,000, $9.76 is collected for BHRSD. Stockbridge’s tax rate is $9.59 of which $3.28 is for BHRSD, one-third of Great Barrington’s school assessment. West Stockbridge’s rate is $12.33 of which $7.83 is for BHRSD. Great Barrington has 68 percent of its tax levy collected for the school. In fact, the FY2017 budget will mushroom to 72 percent if passed.
GB’s tax rate is driven by out-dated formulas. No matter how you view it, the tax chart says it all. School assessments have been inequitable for decades and becoming worse. Great Barrington clearly supports education. Does everyone?
Admirably, BHRSD is operating as a super-regional school. However, it is without adequate “super-regional” funding. This has to be corrected so we can properly support education.
How do we fix it? Structurally, schools are a separate legal entity from town government. Regional schools are a unique subset yet. Our Select Board governs the municipality but has no real authority over the School Board except in the formation of the regional district agreement. (Agreement formed in 1965, amended in 1990, with no change in assessment method.)
Citizens have no power except in electing School Board members, in the passage of the school budget at the Annual Town Meeting (only an “up or down” vote for the total, not its components), or through the approval of large capital expenditures like the school renovation.
Is there hope? A special appointed BHRSD Agreement Amendment Committee (RAAC) has been formed, meeting since January. They represent citizens and members of the Select Boards, Finance and School Committees from the three towns. They have the power to propose changes to the 50 year old agreement, which would then require approval of the School Board, then Select Board, then all three towns in special town meetings. However, there is resistance to change. If the political will does not exist, then Great Barrington needs to escalate our issues and seek legislative exemption to address the imbalance.
A potential unified tax rate would be the most direct approach. It would reduce the arcane (and inequitable) computations that drive Great Barrington’s plight.  Further, a unified tax rate could facilitate the expansion of the district by simplifying financial planning and restructuring possibilities.
We should exercise democracy at the May Town Meeting. Elect Board members who reflect your views. This summer, enlist nominations to School Committees for the November ballot. Elect “change agents.” It’s too easy to default to the status quo. It doesn’t work anymore.
Sharon Gregory
Great Barrington
[1] Tax levies are from the MA Department of Revenues
