Nahant officials criticize unfunded state mandates

NAHANT – Unfunded state mandates, including special education, result in higher property taxes for homeowners, according to town officials.Nahant Town Administrator Mark Cullinan said the school department is looking at a deficit of approximately $200,000, due to special education costs.”The situation here is several new special-education students are moving into the district,” Cullinan said. “The state requires we fund it, but it doesn’t give us aid to do that. It is another unfunded mandate.”Selectman Richard Lombard said if the school department can’t find the $200,000 in its budget, it’s up to the School Committee to decide what to do.”I think the selectmen would agree to put an override on the ballot if that’s what the School Committee decides it needs to do,” Lombard said. “I’m not in favor of an override, but the school is up against it. They are between a rock and a hard place.”Selectman Michael Manning said unfunded mandates are out of control in Massachusetts.”The state starts programs, tons of them,” he said. “The state starts running short of money and backs away leaving the towns holding the bag. The state should not pass a law telling us we have to do something and not address where the money will come from.”Manning said a $200,000 override to pay the additional special education costs for one year could cost the average property owner an additional $150 to $200 in taxes.Selectman Lainey Titus agreed unfunded mandates hurt many communities.”I’m not a fan of unfunded mandates,” Titus said. “Unfunded mandates don’t work in a town as small as Nahant.