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Weathersfield schools join statewide coalition to retain dollars
By Mary Smith
MINERAL RIDGE
The Weathersfield Board of Education has joined the statewide Coalition for Fiscal Fairness, the 21st school district statewide to join the coalition to fight to keep state reimbursements of monies that previously came from personal tangible property tax.
The tax, which is on business inventory, was eliminated in 2004, schools Treasurer Laurena Rouan said. The district had been receiving $1.3 million annually from the tax, but once it was eliminated, schools lobbied the state government to have the funds paid to local districts by the state.
The district has been receiving $900,000 annually under this arrangement, which was brought about largely through the efforts of the coalition, Rouan said.
The group is advocating a permanent funding replacement for the loss of the tangible permanent property tax.
The Weathersfield schools were ranked eighth in the state for districts most affected by the loss of revenue in personal tangible property tax, Rouan said.
Schools Superintendent Damon Dohar added that other districts in the area that were hit hard by elimination of the tax are Howland, Lordstown, Warren and Lakeview.
“It hurts,” the superintendent said. “It’s a big hit here, if they phase it out totally.”
The district will pay $5,250 for the fiscal year July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014, for a pro-rated amount in dues for membership in the coalition. The full year amount is $7,000, but depends upon how many members there are in the group, the treasurer said.
Originally state law, House Bill 66, which cut the funds, planned for a phaseout between 2006 and 2009.