Ken Goldstein

In brief, Brookline is "the victim of our own success."  Because Brookline is such a good place to live, and has such excellent schools, people come to live in Brookline, and are willing to pay higher rents and higher purchase prices for homes, in order to obtain Brookline's excellent schools and services.  The school population has increased markedly.  Overall student population has grown from 5766 in 2006 to over 7000 in FY15 (with 35% growth in the K-8 schools,which will move up through the high school in the coming years).  Without this enrollment growth the school budget would have been adequate.  With it, however, the school has been running a deficit and is now facing the need for 100 new staff or serious cuts in programs and services.

 

Ken graciously answered questions from the group and provided candid replies.  The Selectmen have not finalized their recommendation for the exact amount of the override, and are looking at ways other than property tax revenue to raise as much money as possible for this increase in the schools' operating budget.

 

For more details on the study that led up to the Override recommendation, please see http://www.brooklinema.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5638

 

We thanked Ken for his willingness to devote so much of his time and resources to leading the Town, and for his continuing association with Brookline Rotary.