ANDOVER — Sixty-five Andover residents petition through a Warrant Article for accountability and transparency to assure New Hampshire taxpayers that our tax dollars that fund the Education Freedom Accounts (vouchers) are “spent wisely and delivering results.” Taxpayers are also deeply concerned that the voucher program is spiraling out of control. 

In its first year, when it was slipped into the budget, the cost was $8M (not the $300,000 predicted by Department of Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut). This year the program for 5,321 students will cost $28M. Introduced in late January, House Bill 115 would make the program available to all families regardless of income. The bill did not have an estimated cost. 

Whatever the amount, our taxpayers’ dollars fund the EFAs, leaving fewer dollars for public schools. This is particularly worrisome because Governor Ayotte has called for budget cuts and austerity.

In addition, we have seen the legislature continue to download the cost of an “adequate public education” on each town’s property taxpayers. When the state holds back on funding public schools, we in Andover must step up with the only means we have: raising our property taxes.

The Warrant Article will be voted on at the annual Town Meeting, March 11. The question is, do we want accountability and transparency?

Kent Hackmann

Andover