Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, April 19, 2019 Finance Committee Review Saugus paying less in Northeast Metro Tech assessments this year, but still $1 million more than anybody else By Mark E. Vogler S augus continues to be the most-assessed among the 12 communities with students attending the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School (Northeast Metro Grand Opening! Magnolia Dental New Patient Special We accept most insurance plans 145 Exchange St Malden, MA 02148 781-627-5297 Cleaning:$88 / Whitening & Cleaning:$388 magnoliadentalma.com Fully Licensed & Insured Emergency Service Available 24/7 SPECIALIZING IN KITCHEN & BATHROOM REMODELING * Heating * Cooling * Electric * Tile All Estimates Done By Owner * Drain Cleaning 781-FIX-PIPE (349-7473) • crnplumbing@gmail.com Tech) in Wakefield. The $3.2 million the town is expected to pay for the 2020 fiscal year that begins July 1 is still considerably more than the assessment for Revere – the community paying the next highest assessment – $2.1 million. But that gap is narrowing for a change, according to figures provided by Northeast Metro Tech financial officials during a budget briefing before the Finance Committee Wednesday night (April 10). Saugus will wind up paying $312,840 less in assessments for the 2020 fiscal year – an 8.9 percent decrease – because of 23 fewer students expected to be enrolled in classes next year. “Your total population became less of our total population,” said Jay Picone, the school’s director of finance. Meanwhile, Revere will be paying $106,617 more in assessments – a 5.3 percent increase – because of six more students expected to be enASKS | from page 3 781-321-7700 10% DISCOUNT WITH THIS AD! 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So, that was the duty of 505 Broadway Everett, MA 02149 Tel: 617-387-1120 www.gkdental.com • Family Dentistry • Crowns • Bridges • Veneers/Lumineers • Dental Implants • All on 4 Dental Implants • Emergency Dentist • Kid Friendly Dentist • Root Canals • Dentures • Invisalign Braces • Snap On Smile • Teeth Whitening We are the smile care experts for your entire family rolled in classes next year. Yet Finance Committee members still express frustration at what they see is unfair treatment the town has been receiving for years because of a state formula that assesses them at a higher level than urban communities that send more students. For instance, Revere – which is expected to have 256 students enrolled at Northeast Metro Tech during the next fiscal year – has a per-pupil cost of $8,264 compared to Saugus, which has a $16,752 perpupil cost. Chelsea – which is expected to have the highest student enrollment (272) at Northeast Metro Tech for the 2020 fiscal year, nearly 22 percent of the school enrollment, has a per pupil cost of $5,539. That city’s assessment for the new fiscal year is about $1.5 million. Finance Committee Chair Kenneth DePatto expressed dismay during Wednesday our ship. It was all Navy. Q: When you look back at your four years in the Navy, was there one day that sticks out the most? One day, one time? A: Yes. It’s when we invaded Sicily, and we went into the beach a couple of times and came back out and came back in again. I think the invasion of Sicily was the biggest one? Q: That’s where your ship got shot up. A: Yep. Q: But there wasn’t a Purple Heart situation? A: No. I didn’t get hurt and I never applied for it. Q: Were there a lot of men lost in that one? A: Not really. Q: Most of the people survived? A: Yes. Q: How many people on that ship? A: I think there were 75 of us. Q: And most of you got out of it? A: Yep. I was very, very, very fortunate, and to be sitting here now. Q: Were there other close calls? A: Not as close as that. Q: If you were going to write a book about your World War II experience, what would the main chapter be about? A: Gee, that’s a good quesIn House Dental Plan for $399 (Cleanings, X-Rays, Exams twice a year and 20% OFF Dental work) Schedule your FREE Consultations today tion. I’d say the invasion of Sicily was the biggest one. Q: About how you almost … A: Didn’t come back. I’d say that was the biggest one. Q: Did you write your mom or tell your mom about the exnight’s budget review. “I want the public to know this disparity,” DePatto said. “That’s unconscionable. They should be ashamed on Beacon Hill,” he said. State Sen. Jason Lewis (DMiddlesex), Senate Chair of 5th the Joint Committee on Education, is looking into the formula to make it fairer, according to Northeast Metro Tech Superintendent/Director David DiBarri and Picone. “They’re going to phase in increases until it’s adjusted,” Picone said. SAUGUS NUMBERS AT A GLANCE FY 2019 As s e s smen t : $3,529,161. FY 2020 assessment: $3,216,320. Assessment decrease: $312,840. Percentage of decrease: 8.9%. FY 2019 students: 215. FY 2020 students: 192. Total student decrease: 23. perience, or did you keep that from her? A: My mother never knew where I was. They wouldn’t let us say. They cut it out [of the letter]. She got a letter one time and she asked, “What did you cut it all up for?” They took out words that they didn’t want in the letters. So, they cut it all up. Q: Did you ever tell her about that, or did you keep that from her? A: I never told her. I never really said anything about the war. Q: Now, your late wife, Hazel, where was she originally from? A: Lynn. Q: And you met her before the service? A: During the service. Q: How did you meet her? A: Her sister was going out with this guy, and that’s how I met her – through this guy I knew and her sister. That was in ’42. Q: You would come home for a visit and had a date. That’s how it went? A: Yes. Q: Anything that you kept to yourself all of these years that you never told your family about, that you don’t mind talking about now? About during your time in the service? A: To be honest with you, I was scared; it really scared the crap out of me! To put it this way: I really wouldn’t want to go through that again: the close calls. Q: The whole time? A: Yes, especially during the ASKS | SEE PAGE 11 STARTING AT
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