Financing Arlington Public Education

Like most town in the Commonwealth, Arlington funds its schools largely through property tax revenue so understanding local tax issues is crucial. Arlington's municipal budget is allocated according to a formula called the O'Neill Formula. Because Arlington has limited land for business and new growth opportunities, the ability to fund local services based on property taxes is limited.

In 2004, Arlington residents agreed to a Five-Year Plan to increase their taxes over 2 1/2 cap to fund schools and raise an additional $6 Million to maintain local services. Under the Override Five Year Plan, Arlington is to meet the following constraints:

Departmental budget increases are limited to 4% per year.
Health Care costs were to be capped at 7% increases
State Aid was to be increased to 2002 levels
Override Stabilization fund to be created to support years 3-5 of the override plan
Broaden access to seniors to property tax abatements.

The current FY2008 budget is being formulated.

How is Arlington doing in meeting Override Goals?

While departmental budgets have been restricted to less than 4%, health care costs, energy costs and inflation continue to rise at a higher rate.

Learn more about State Funding:

In Massachusetts, the Commonwealth helps to address some inequities in local funding in the Education Reform Act by creating a complex algorithm called the foundation formula that looks at residential property, new development, industrial and commercial land.

To learn basic information about state financing of public education, read our primer: The Basics of State Funding for Schools.

What is SPOT doing to increase State Aid?

We proposed the formation of the State Aid Task Force, which requires town leaders from BOS and School Committee to report annually on activities to increase state aid. We work as a supporting organization to Stand For Children to support their advocacy work.

Learn more about Local School Budget

SPOT examines and analyzes the school budget process and advocates for protection of direct services to students. We keep track of and publicize the budget process, highlight what is at risk, and examine priorities. To learn more about the budget process, take a look at the Finance Committee Budget Flowchart

To learn more, read some of the articles listed below:

Primer on Proposition 2^1/2
The amount of money available, is limited by the Proposition 2^1/2. Although everyone knows about this piece of legislation, few people really understand it. Here is a primer prepared by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
MWRA fees
Fees associated with water and sewer service are folded into the property tax bill in Arlington. This discussion explores the impact of that practice.

Follow these links for additional information:

Arlington at the Forefront of Fight for School Support

Notes from Q & A with Jim Marzilli, January 2004

Opposition to the Community Charter School of Cambridge

My talk with Governor Romney and Commissioner Driscoll by Colleen Kirby Cho

Testimony of Paul Schlichtman at Charter School Hearings, January 14, 2004

Community Involvement in Shaping the School's Budget Process by Suzanne Baratta Owayda, Chair Arlington School Committee