Alex de Geofroy

HB 1399-FN addresses a critical failure of state policy that left the Claremont School District uniquely vulnerable. By renovating Stevens High School in 2015, Claremont fulfilled its obligation to provide a safe, accredited facility during a state-imposed building aid moratorium. This forced local property taxpayers to shoulder 100% of a cost that the state would otherwise have subsidized. In low-wealth districts, this "starve-the-beast" approach to infrastructure has proven unsustainable and has directly contributed to the current fiscal crisis. However, a direct $5 million appropriation must be accompanied by rigorous state oversight to ensure these funds lead to long-term stability rather than temporary relief. I support this appropriation only if it is contingent upon Claremont accepting a state-appointed financial monitor and adhering to a strict timeline for completing overdue audits. We must ensure that the students of Claremont do not suffer for the accounting failures of the past, but we must also ensure that state taxpayers are investing in a district that is being held to the highest standards of financial transparency and accountability moving forward.