| The Sandisfield Times |
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| School Agreement Closer to Approval |
| Published January 15, 2024. |
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Editor's Note: The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE has completed its review of the proposed new Regional District Agreement between Otis and Sandisfield and passed the proposal to their legal section for comment.
During its examination, DESE requested several changes which have been made. If there are no suggestions from the legal section, the next step is for DESE to issue a pre-approval of the proposal and then Special Town Meetings in Otis and Sandisfield can be scheduled (possibly in February) for a vote on the new Regional District Agreement. Using FY24 as a baseline, had the new apportionment methodology been used in FY24 the ASFTB (average single family tax bill) would have been $390 lower in Sandisfield and $180 higher in Otis. The $180 would have translated to $15 per month for Otis households. We hope to report how the new apportionment methodology would have changed the FY25 ASFTB's in our next issue, now that FY25 tax data has recently been published by the MA Department of Revenue. The new apportionment methodology would see its first application in the FY26 budget planning process if the amended RDA is approved by both towns in February town meetings. More precise data will be forthcoming from the School Committee once the town meetings are scheduled. |
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Published January 15, 2025