Voucher Accountability at Deliberative Session

New Hampshire communities value strong public schools and responsible use of public funds for education. But despite New Boston’s strong stand at the polls last year against the expansion of the Education Freedom Account program (school vouchers), our statewide representatives ignored the voters’ wishes and doubled its size, now estimated to cost more than $110 million this budget cycle, doling out more public funds for private education without regard to financial need, nor guardrails to evaluate fiscal responsibility nor educational performance.

NH’s Education Trust Fund was created to pay for adequate education grants to public school districts. These grants fund public schools, money that does not come from local property taxpayers. Vouchers are being distributed from that same Education Trust Fund. Every dollar paid for vouchers cannot be used to ease New Boston’s escalating property tax burden. Additionally, the legislature and governor refuse to follow NH Supreme Court rulings ordering the State to increase adequacy funding to cities and towns.

In early February, New Boston’s voters will have another opportunity to speak up in opposition to this wasteful diversion of taxpayer dollars. Please attend the deliberative session for the school ballot and support my petitioned warrant article to repeal universal school vouchers and place financial limits and accountability on the program.

Teri Harkins