School committee discusses a potential operational override

During their meeting on Monday, May 4, members of the School Committee voiced their preliminary opinions on a potential tax override. 

“At some point, probably by FY28, the town’s really going to need to consider an override,” said Chris Oliver, who was the latest committee member to bring up the idea. 

An operational override would allow the town to increase taxes more than is allowed under Proposition 2 ½ . Proposition 2 ½ states a town can only raise taxes 2.5% plus new growth each year, which James Kiely, the assistant superintendent of finance and operations, said equals about 3.3% a year. 

An operational override is a tax increase that would allow the school district to increase its spending, and potentially match the state average for spending and keep things status quo, according to Oliver.

Currently, Dartmouth is well below the state average. 

“I was originally adamantly against having someone, another group, come in because we know what the numbers are,” said Oliver.  “We know what the per pupil is, we know we’re in the bottom percentage state-wide for spending.”

He said he hopes that with a bit more spending, the school district could bring back some of the enrichment and after school programs they have had to do away with due to budget cuts.

While the school committee is unable to pass an operational override without Town Meeting approval, they will be discussing whether they want to request one. 

To justify the request of an operational override, they would hire a third-party to look at the school budget and finances to see if the extra funds are needed. 

According to Oliver, a third party consultation would cost between $10,000 and $15,000. These costs would be covered by funds from the Select Board or Finance Committee. 

"We do have the data, and yet isn’t accepted by everyone on the Budget Advisory Committee,” said school committee member Elizabeth Coughlin. “Perhaps the greater Dartmouth community won’t accept that data either.”

While Coughlin stated she feels the override is necessary to keep things as they are in the school committee, she added that she’s worried about how long it would take to complete.

Member Kathleen Amaral agreed with Coughlin, noting that people currently do not believe the data and feels people will not believe a third party “repeating” the same data. 

“Who are we trying to convince?” she asked. “People that may not want to be convinced.”

Vice Chair John Nunes agreed that this repeated data is would take a lot of time and effort, especially since the current numbers are not believed. 

“I don’t see a benefit in it,” he said. 

The School Committee will continue discussing this issue during their next meeting on Monday, May 18.