With the city of Somersworth set to vote on a tax cap for the city in November, School Board Chairman Don Austin addressed the School Board this week that there could be some dire consequences if that measure is passed. Auston informed the Board that a tax cap on the budget could render the district unable to meet minimum state standards at all grade levels, a loss of state approval for accreditation at the high school, increased class sizes at all grade levels, and potentially the elimination of music, art, drama, and physical education programs. The City Council recently approved the school Board budget at $24.8 million, which only gave the School Board an increase of $630,000 over the prior years budget. Austin pointed out that if that budget had been made under a tax cap, the board only would have seen an increase of $350,000 dollars which would have forced the School Board to close he middle school’s media center and would have seen the reduction of 6 staff positions.