Region – Tensions are simmering across the commonwealth between towns and their school districts as officials struggle with school budgets that are sometimes as high as 67 percent of the overall budget. Taxweary residents, both with and without children, are questioning why these costs keep climbing in an era of continuing cutbacks elsewhere. But the schools argue that with unfunded state and federal mandates, as well as the costs of health care, they have no other choice than to ask for more money to meet their obligations.