Teacher boom
The quote below is from a report by the University of Masschusetts Donovan Institute, so it should be trusted only when verified, but if it is correct it may just explain a substantial part of budget shortfalls in towns and cities cross the state:
From 1999 to 2004, school enrollments statewide were essentially flat, with 0.2 percent total growth, while the employment of full time equivalent (FTE) teaching staff increased by eight percent. Despite very limited growth in enrollment, total school expenditures grew by 28.6 percent statewide from 1999 to 2004.
