OMG $9 MILLION DOLLARS!!!!

I couldn't believe my ears. There was discussion last night at the joint Select Board, School Committee and Finance Committee meeting about the Dartmouth Schools needing $9 million dollars to reach the average per pupil spending of the Commonwealth. To my chagrin, no one at the meeting seemed to be shocked at the suggestion that the town could conceivably fund the school department with an additional $9 million dollars. Folks, that is nearly more money than the combined budgets of the Police Department (6.5 million) and the DPW (3 million). What planet do these people live on? If you vote in town elections, you may want to ask the candidates running for Select Board and School Committee what they think about an increase like this. If they support it, you might want to consider where your next home will be. You won't want to live in Dartmouth. Even if you have children in such a well funded school, the streets won't be plowed or patrolled by police.