Education Funding Lawsuit Works to Gain Support with 'One-on-One Dialogues'

The local group leading a proposed lawsuit against the state challenging the education funding formula is making its pitch to select towns and hopes to gain the ear of legislators from key communities later this month.

The local non-profit group hoping to file a lawsuit against the state government to challenge the existing education funding formula have been busy laying the groundwork for gaining support from other communities. Tax Reform for Education hopes they will raise enough money to file the suit against the state to eliminate disproportionate taxing under the state's education funding law - Chapter 70.  In September, the group told the Hamilton Board of Selectmen that they were trying to raise $300,000 for the effort and expected to present to communities with similar demographics where disproportionate taxation and unfair school funding was evident. Group members hoped to garner support from 30 communities and ask each community to pitch in $10…

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Local 'Tax Reform' Group Seeks Stoneham's Support

Tax Reform for Education is a group that started in Hamilton and Wenham and is soliciting $10,000 from 30 towns to file a lawsuit against the state government alleging that the existing school funding method is unconstitutional.

The local group seeking to challenge the state’s education funding formula made its case to a group of leaders in Stoneham last week. Stoneham Tri-Board, comprised of members from the town’s Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Finance and Advisory Board, had a preliminary meeting with the Tax Reform for Education Committee. The committee, which was formed last year by a group of Hamilton and Wenham residents, is seeking support and money to sue the state, alleging the existing formula to fund education is unfair. The nonprofit organization is hoping to force the repeal of the state’s Chapter 70 education law and to remodel the state's approach to education funding. The group’s spokesperson, Susan Beckman, and member Joe Crimons told …

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Week in Review

Top Local Stories From the Past Week

A look back at some of the big stories in Hamilton and Wenham in the past week.

Here's a look back at the five most significant stories in Hamilton and Wenham in the past week. 1. Hamilton Selectmen vote to spend $10,000 on lawsuit challenging the state education funding method A nonprofit group called “Tax Reform for Education” is planning to sue the state government, challenging its method of collecting taxes used to fund education. The group is looking to collect $10,000 for 30 communities to launch the suit and received a commitment last Monday from the Hamilton Board of Selectmen. 2. Post offices escape closure list Even though Hamilton and Wenham – combined – have three post office along a two mile stretch of Route 1A serving 12,000 people, all three post offices escaped the U.S. Postal Service’s post office …

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Hamilton Commits Money To Education Funding Lawsuit [POLL]

The Hamilton Board of Selectmen has voted to spend $10,000 to help fund a lawsuit that will challenge the existing method of tax collection to fund education.

The town of Hamilton has committed to financially backing a lawsuit that is set to challenge the state government on its education funding method. Hamilton selectmen earlier this week authorized spending $10,000 to go towards the suit, which is designed to challenge the state’s existing education funding law, known as Chapter 70. The money will come from the town’s legal budget, said Town Manager Michael Lombardo. “We have it in our budget to accommodate this barring any other unforeseen lawsuits,” he said. Selectmen backed it in a 5-0 vote. The non-profit group Tax Reform for Education is hoping to collect $300,000 from 30 different communities to fund the lawsuit. The suit, which has yet to be filed, is designed to force the state …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: July 11

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Monday, July 11. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Weather: Monday is shaping up to be a great day weatherwise with the forecast calling for sun and temperatures in the 80s. 2. Cow to Cone: We know how much everyone around here loves ice cream, but have you ever stopped to this how the ice cream gets on the cone. Your chance comes on Monday afternoon at Appleton Farms with “From Cow to Cone” from 3-6 p.m. It includes homemade ice cream and costs $15 for members and $18 nonmembers. 3. Wenham Conservation Commission: The Wenham Conservation Commission takes on its business on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. at Wenham Town Hall, which includes discussion about the rail trail. 4. Local Heroes: Several summertime programs kick off on…

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