The school children of Rehoboth need your help. The new state funding formula instituted two years ago in funding public education adversely impacts the REHOBOTH STUDENTS. The Rehoboth members of the Advisory Finance Committee to the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School Committee with the support of the Rehoboth members of the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School Committee have asked our elected representatives to change how the state\'s Chapter 70 monies are distributed in Regional School Districts so that the money the District receives is divided equally by student population. The inadequacy of Chapter 70 funding in the Commonwealth is challenging for every community in Massachusetts, however the unequal distribution of Chapter 70 funding in our Regional School District threatens to destroy what was once one of the finest school districts in the state. For there to be equity, the money from Chapter 70 State Aid for Regional School Districts should follow the child. Rehoboth, like many towns, needs additional funding from the state to support its schools. As a district we are adversely affected when one town within the district is targeted to receive 50% state aid while the other town (Rehoboth) is targeted for 35%. Rehoboth EVEN loses out on hold harmless monies since the district as a whole receives more money. However, no matter how these Chapter 70 Monies are determined, once they are sent to our district, each and every student should get the same equal benefit. The new state funding formula makes the primary assumption that there is a strong correlation between property values and incomes. Although it is true for some towns it does not apply to all. Some towns, like Rehoboth, may be impacted by the wealth effect. A high average annual income does not always mean the majority have high incomes. For many people in Rehoboth, there has been an increase in their home value, but no commensurate increase in their annual income. The town of Rehoboth is a rural, farming town with less than 6% commercial business. Last years assessment was 12.9 million (excluding capital assessment). Revenue from property taxes (excluding debt exclusion) was 14.5 Million. Any shortfall in funding at the state falls squarely on the property tax owner and is quite evident that property taxes are not the answer in funding public education. We need immediate relief from this funding formula, one that adequately and fairly funds the education of our children. In 2003, our Chapter 70 State Aid was 7.2 Million and in 2007 our Chapter 70 State Aid was 7.2 Million, while the budget increased 40% and enrollment has been consistent. This represents the rising cost of educating a child with less funding from the state and more from the property tax owner. There is NOT enough Chapter 70 money coming back to the ENTIRE district to offset even our fixed cost increases without having an override every year. We need more money, and, ALL the money sent to our district should follow the child equally throughout the regional district. If you have any questions, feel free to contact any one on the Advisory Finance Committee or Rehoboth members of the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School Committee. The Rehoboth Members of Advisory Finance Committee to D-R Regional School Committee James Horton Susan Pimental Gerald Schwall The Rehoboth Members of the D-R Regional School Committee Richard Barrett Casey Hall David Katseff Mary Beth Moriarty Roger Rouselle We encourage you to call or email your elected representatives: Senator Timilty phone 617-722-1222 e-mail [email protected] Representative Steven D\'Amico District phone 508-336-9192 e-mail Rep.StevenD\'[email protected] Co-chairs of the Education Committee Senator Antonioni phone 617-722-1230 e-mail [email protected] Representative Haddad phone 617-722-2070 e-mail [email protected]. Please show your support of this initiative and increasing Rehoboth\'s share of the state\'s dollars for education by signing this petition. ** After you add your signature a donation page will appear. The upcoming donation request by i-petitions is not obligatory. No donation needed to have your signature added to this petition. You can simply leave the donations page and your signature will remain on the petition.