Please attend the upcoming OSSD Budget Information Mtg on Thursday February 26th at 6pm in the RUHS Murray Auditorium to understand the OSSD Budget that you will vote on March 3, 2026. If you are unable to attend the OSSD Budget Information Mtg, I'd like to highlight some information here. The OSSD Budget did not see a double digit increase in expenditures which the press has been talking about as a possibility for many districts. The OSSD Budget has a 3.07% increase in expenditures. At the last OSSD Board meeting the superintendent provided an overview of the budget information. Below is an excerpt from what he shared: Based on projections using the yield figure in the December Tax Commissioner's letter we make the following projections: The OSSD equalized homestead tax rate is projected at $1.7561, a decrease of 7.4 cents or 4.22% from last year's rate of $1.8301. However, properties in Braintree, Brookfield, and Randolph have continued to sell for more than their appraised value which has caused the Common Level of Appraisal to drop in each of the towns. The decrease in the OSSD equalized tax rate helps to offset the increase caused by the CLA but is not able to fully eliminate it as a result Braintree's CLA adjusted Tax rate will increase by 4 cents from 1.9254 to 1.9644 which will increase the monthly tax bill on a $250,000 home by $8.13/month or $97.50 for the year Brookfield's CLA adjusted Tax rate will increase by 4 cents from 1.5723 to 1.6123 which will increase the monthly tax bill on a $250,000 home by $8.33/month or $100.00 for the year Randolph's CLA adjusted Tax rate will increase by 2 cents from 1.2842 to 1.301 which will increase the monthly tax bill on a $250,000 home by $3.50 /month or $42.00 for the year. For further information, please review the OSSD Annual Report which is available at all theTown Offices in the district, the OSSD Central Office, and Kimball Library as well as electronically on the OSSD website https://www.orangesouthwest.org/