2025 Brookline Property Tax Rate - $24.64/1K (increase of $2.03/1K, +9.4%)  (Tax rate history)

Graphs below show drivers of property tax increase.  We have an unsustainable spending trend in our Brookline School District (BSD), Town of Brookline, and Hollis Brookline Co-Op School District, especially with declining student enrollments.  We now spend $25,284/student (BSD) and $30,314/student (Co-Op).
 
Brookline School District (BSD):  $1,162,439 total spending increase (9.2%) since last year, with 8.2% fewer students.  Exceeds 8% BSD local tax cap.
Total BSD spending per student up 18.9% in one year!  ($25,284, up from $21,262)

Brookline Town Operating Budget:  $950,399 increase (12.6%) since last year.
Town operating budget has been increasing at 3X the rate of inflation since 2020. 



Hollis Brookline Co-Op School District: $1,263,963 total spending increase (4.1%) since last year, with 4.8% fewer students.
This 4.1% increase is on top of 9.4% increase the previous year.
Total Co-Op spending per student up 9.3% in one year!  ($30,314, up from $27,737)




NH State Education Aid (Adequacy Aid) for Brookline students (BSD and Co-Op) is based on enrollment (NH Department of Education).

• FY25 Adequacy Aid was $4,093/student for 1068.34 students ($4,372,983)
• FY26 Adequacy Aid is $3,983/student, for 1043.35 students ($4,155,497), decrease of $110/student (-2.7%) from FY25
  

Based on State Budget (2025 HB1 and HB2) passed in June 2025 by State Reps, State Senators, and Governor, Brookline is projected to get Adequacy Aid increase of $784,079 next year (FY27).  It would be wise for most if not all of the aid increase goes towards property tax relief in 2026.

• FY27 Adequacy Aid projected to be $4,860/student, for 1016.47 students ($4,939,576), increase of $877/student (22.0%) from FY26
  

---

Most residents do not consider these tax increases to be reasonable or sustainable.  However, we the voters hold the power over the property tax rates, if we participate in local town and school meetings. 

---

Many residents are concerned about our students not reaching proficiency in our schools.  In many grades, we have 30%, 40%, or 50% of students who are not proficient in math, reading, and/or science.  The table below shows the number of students who are NOT proficient per the most recent statewide assessments.  To the right is the HB Co-Op assessment proficiency over the past three years.  This is very concerning.

 
Data Links from NH Dept of Education:
Brookline         Hollis      Hollis-Brookline Co-Op
https://www.nh.gov/t/DOE/views/iReport/Achievement

---

Organizer - Eric Pauer, info@hollisbrookline.com