A growing concern is brewing in Rutland City between certain elected officials, school administration, and school board members. At the heart of the issue is the language used in this year’s school budget ballot—a carefully worded statement that paints a misleading picture of school spending and taxation.
The Voter Brochure: Does It Tell the Whole Story?
Every year, the Rutland City School District releases budget materials to educate residents on the upcoming school budget vote. On the surface, these documents appear to be objective guides, giving taxpayers a summary of school spending and its impact on taxes.
However, a closer look at the FY26 budget presentation reveals a selective focus on key figures, while the broader financial impact is not fully emphasized. Instead of a straightforward financial breakdown that highlights total spending growth and tax implications, the presentation:
✔ Frames per-pupil spending as “down” when the overall budget is increasing by $3.35 million (5.2%).
✔ Presents a tax rate decrease without fully explaining how CLA adjustments may still result in higher property tax bills for homeowners.
✔ Does not prominently feature salary, benefit, and administrative cost increases, despite these being the largest drivers of budget growth.
While this year’s budget presentation is more data-focused than previous brochures, it still shapes the conversation in a way that downplays the full financial impact on taxpayers.
The Equalized Pupil Formula: A Clever Accounting Trick
One of the most misleading elements of the brochure is the use of “equalized pupils” to calculate spending per student.
How It Works:
Instead of counting actual students, Vermont uses an “equalized pupil” formula that inflates the student count based on state-determined weightings for:
✔ High school students (count as more than 1)
✔ Low-income students (count as more than 1)
✔ English language learners (count as more than 1)
✔ Special education students (count as more than 1)
This artificially increases the total student count, making per-pupil spending appear much lower than it actually is.
Example Breakdown
Let’s say a school has 1,850 students physically enrolled. Under the equalized pupil formula, the state might count them like this:
| Student Type | Actual Students | Weight Per Student | Equalized Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary Students | 900 | 1.0 | 900 |
| High School Students | 500 | 1.2 | 600 |
| Low-Income Students | 250 | 1.3 | 325 |
| English Language Learners | 100 | 1.5 | 150 |
| Special Education Students | 100 | 1.7 | 170 |
| Total Physical Students | 1,850 | Varies | 2,145 |
So, instead of reporting 1,850 students, the district reports 2,145 equalized pupils, which “lowers” the per-pupil spending number.
What This Means for Rutland
- The brochure claims that per-pupil spending is dropping by 1.7%.
- But this is not because of any actual cost-cutting—it’s simply a change in the formula.
- Meanwhile, the total school budget is actually increasing by $3.35 million (5.2%).
- In reality, if calculated based on real student enrollment, spending per student is much higher than reported.
This is why some Rutland officials feel misled by the budget presentation.
The Real Numbers: Last Year’s Budget vs. This Year’s Proposal
The biggest problem with the brochure is that it hides the real spending increases. Let’s look at the actual numbers between last year’s FY25 budget and this year’s FY26 proposal:
| Category | FY25 (Last Year) | FY26 (Proposed) | Change ($) | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Budget | $63,835,000 | $67,187,000 | + $3.35M | +5.2% |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $12,408 | $12,197 | -1.7% | (Misleading figure!) |
| Debt Service | $871,837 | $912,500 | + $40,663 | +4.7% |
| Salaries & Benefits | $48,512,992 | $50,782,316 | + $2.27M | +4.7% |
| Administrative Costs | $5,215,000 | $5,618,000 | + $403K | +7.7% |
Key Takeaways
✔ The budget is increasing by $3.35 million—far outpacing inflation.
✔ Salaries & benefits account for $2.27 million of the increase.
✔ Administrative costs are rising at an even faster rate (7.7%) than salaries.
✔ Debt service is increasing, adding more long-term financial strain.
So while the brochure claims per-pupil spending is “down”, in reality, spending is rising significantly in core areas.
Inflation vs. Budget Growth: The “Real Feel” of This Tax Increase
One major red flag is that the budget is growing faster than inflation, making the tax increase feel even larger to taxpayers.
- National inflation rate (2025): 3.0%
- Rutland school budget increase: 5.2%
This means the school is increasing spending faster than the overall economy. With spending growing faster than inflation, taxpayers may feel a heavier burden, particularly if wage growth and cost-of-living adjustments do not keep pace with school spending increases.
How It Impacts Property Taxes
📌 What the brochure claims:
“Next year’s equalized Homestead Property Tax Rate is expected to be the same or lower.”
📌 What’s actually happening:
- While the base tax rate is decreasing by 6.06 cents, the impact on actual tax bills will depend on the Common Level of Appraisal (CLA), which adjusts property values based on market conditions. A lower CLA can still result in higher tax payments.
- If you own a $200,000 home, your school tax bill will increase by about $122 per year.
- The brochure only presents the base tax rate before adjustments, leaving out the real tax impact.
💡 Translation: Your taxes are going up, but the brochure frames it as neutral or positive.
Why This Matters
The Rutland City School budget should be transparent, not manipulative. But this year’s brochure and ballot language obscure the truth:
✔ The budget is increasing significantly—not decreasing.
✔ Salaries & benefits make up most of the increase, yet this is never clearly stated.
✔ The “per-pupil spending decrease” is a misleading claim, based on a formula, not real savings.
✔ The tax rate is increasing, but voters aren’t given the full picture.
What Voters Should Ask
If school spending is truly under control, why does the budget require:
❓ A 5.2% overall increase, outpacing inflation?
❓ A $2.27M increase in salaries & benefits without major staffing changes?
❓ A 7.7% increase in administrative costs, rising faster than teacher pay?
❓ A higher property tax rate, while the brochure claims stability?
Final Thought: Voters Deserve the Full Picture
Rutland residents deserve transparency—not just carefully worded ballot language. Before approving yet another budget increase, voters should demand clear answers about:
✔ Why administrative costs are rising so fast.
✔ Why per-pupil spending is reported as “down” when total costs are rising.
✔ What measures are being taken to control spending instead of passing the cost onto taxpayers.
On Election Day, make sure you’re voting on the truth—not just a well-crafted narrative.
A Statewide Issue, Not Just Rutland’s Problem
While this article focuses on Rutland City’s school budget, the same formula and ballot language tactics are likely being used in other Vermont communities—and possibly in other states with weighted pupil funding models.
If you’re a Vermont resident outside of Rutland, check your local school budget and see if similar language is being used.
- Are they reporting “lower” per-pupil spending while raising the total budget?
- Are they using “equalized pupils” to obscure real spending?
- Is the tax increase presented clearly, or is it buried in fine print?
If you live outside Vermont, watch for similar school funding formulas that could be used to justify spending increases while making it seem like costs are going down.
💡 This isn’t just a Rutland issue. This is a taxpayer transparency issue. Voters across the state should review their school budgets carefully before approving increases.
Want to Stay Informed?
📌 Attend the next budget meeting
📌 Read the full financial breakdown, not just the brochure
📌 Ask your local officials tough questions
Because when it comes to school budgets and your taxes, details matter.
Dave Soulia | FYIVT
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