By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

Despite ongoing space limitations at Epsom Central School, the school board has decided not to propose a bond for major improvements on this year's ballot.

"The building (facilities) committee looked at the needs and suggested that we re-evaluate what the needs really are," said school board Chairman Andrew Turnbull.

The board is focusing instead on a short list of warrants to go before voters at the upcoming School District Meeting deliberative session, on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

School board and school facilities committee member Bill Yeaton said any long-term improvements to Epsom Central School would have to wait at least a year.

Last March, Epsom voters shot down a $6.7 million plan that would have expanded and renovated portions of Epsom's kindergarten-through-eighth grade school.

"I think in the future something has to be done," said Yeaton. "The general sense I got (from the committee) was that it was going to be a hard sell this year."

Yeaton said climbing tax bills could potentially inhibit voters from supporting a large-scale improvements package, and said the board is instead hoping to get an operating budget approved.

Voters last year left the district with a default operating budget, causing cuts including a teaching position, an afterschool academic program and a bus for Epsom's Pembroke Academy students.

This year, school officials are proposing a $7,158,933 operating budget, which would cause an estimated $1.21 per $1,000 of assessed valuation spike in the tax rate.

Both Yeaton and Turnbull said the proposed budget would cover some immediate facilities needs at the school, like the replacement of an outdated boiler.

At the deliberative session, voters will also weigh in on recently negotiated salary agreements for both teachers and support staff.

The proposed salary increases for the teaching staff - as hashed out by the board and the Epsom Teachers. Association - would require a total of about $318,000 over the next three years, and would cause an estimated spike of 25 cents in this year's tax rate.

If a two-year agreement between the board and the Epsom Support Staff Association is approved by voters, school officials estimate a sixcent increase in this year's tax rate.

Hoping to make up for one of last year's cuts, school officials are also proposing $65,000 to cover the costs of running two busses to transport Epsom high school students to Pembroke Academy.

Turnbull said the cost - estimated to cause a 15-cent jump in the tax rate - would provide two bus routes for Epsom secondary students, many of whom currently pay to bus to high school.

If all the money articles on this year's ballot are approved as currently drafted, school officials estimate a $1.67 jump in the tax rate. With that scenario, the owner of a $200,000 home would see an increase of $334 for school services this year.

The School District Meeting deliberative session is set for Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 6:30 p.m. at Epsom Central School.