Gill-Montague School Committee Holds Public Hearing on $26.4 Million Budget

GILL -- February 8, 2022, Gill-Montague School Committee hears public pushback on SRO costs at $26.4 million budget hearing. Business Director Joanne presented a revised preliminary fiscal year 2023 all-funds budget of $26,432,465 at the February 8 virtual meeting, reflecting a 9.1 percent Chapter 70 increase, stronger than the statewide 8.8 percent average, that allowed the district to restore some previously cut positions and shift three roles back into the general fund. Jenna Odley, identifying herself as chair of the Montague Finance Committee but speaking personally, told the board that Montague contributes nearly half its available tax revenue to the district and called on the school committee to assume the full cost of its school resource officer and to find a path off cannabis impact fees for its licensed drug and alcohol counselor. The superintendent said the district now covers roughly 75 percent of the SRO cost and that the counselor position was funded through a restricted five-year state agreement. The committee voted unanimously to accept a $20,000 anonymous donation to the Bordeaux Family Scholarship and a $2,000 anonymous donation to the Gill Nature's Classroom field trip, and appointed committee member Heather as assistant treasurer. The school committee must approve the budget by a two-thirds vote at its March 8 meeting, at least 45 days before the first Gill and Montague town meetings in May.