Selectmen ask schools to adjust assessment
By Ken Powers Contributing Writer

Northborough - The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously at its Oct. 22 meeting to petition the Northborough-Southborough Regional School Committee to refigure Northborough's financial assessment for Algonquin Regional High School.

Should the school committee agree to re-work the assessment, the town could save as much as $300,000.

The board's vote came after Northborough Treasurer June Hubbard- Ward explained to the board that the assessment for the town was set at $9.5 million, but could be lowered to $9.1 million.

"Because of when the budget was due, it was prepared using fiscal year 2007 figures," Hubbard-Ward said. "The state revenue ended up being significantly more than expected, compared to the 2007 numbers, causing the Cherry Sheet numbers to dramatically increase."

Specifically, the regional school district received from the state an excess in both the regional school transportation cash and the Chapter 70 monies. Hubbard-Ward said the town received about $130,000 more in transportation cash and $238,500 in Chapter 70 funds.

"The money could be returned to the member towns," Hubbard-Ward said. "We can request a review of the assessment. Another option would be to just leave the excess money in the school accounts."

Selectman Jeff Amberson not only thinks the assessment should be re-worked, but he believes if the town is to get a refund, it should be returned to the general fund.

"If it goes back to the town, it doesn't mean it would be used on the town side, ultimately it could end up right back in the school accounts," Amberson said, "but it could also be available for the entire community should a need arise. To me, that's what makes the most sense."

Selectman Dawn Rand said he thinks it's a move worth doing because a re-assessment would benefit both towns.

"It would be a win-win for both communities," Rand said.

Hubbard-Ward confirmed that, but said Southborough's share would be considerably less, about $56,000, because Southborough has fewer students and the assessment is based on each town's number of students who attend Algonquin Regional High School.