Resident urges study to merge Springs with East Hampton to cut taxes; administration cautions on financial complexities

During off‑agenda public comment March 10, resident David Buddha urged the Springs board to commission a study into consolidating the Springs School District with the East Hampton School District, arguing that consolidation would reduce the large disparities in school property tax rates across town.

Mr. Buddha presented a table comparing tax rates and argued that, because multiple small districts feed into one high school, consolidation of two districts (Springs and East Hampton) would yield economies of scale and large reductions in Springs taxpayers’ rates while only modestly increasing East Hampton’s. He asked the board to commence a joint study of the educational and financial impacts of a two‑district consolidation.

Administration acknowledged the value of studying intermunicipal cooperation but cautioned that simple tax‑rate comparisons can be misleading. The district’s presenter and other administrators said that a true consolidation analysis must account for differences in levies and assessed values, existing tuition payments for high‑school students, and the need to equalize reserves and asset values (for example, East Hampton High School and past investments). The administration encouraged continued intermunicipal agreements as a near‑term cost‑saving measure and offered to model a consolidation only if the board wishes to pursue it further.

The board did not take action on the consolidation suggestion at the meeting; administrators asked for more precise financial modeling before any formal study or recommendation.