06/17/08
Board again proposes 6-percent increase for 2008-09 school
spending
The School Board has again endorsed a $19.9 million school budget for 2008-09.
At a special meeting June 16, the board completed documents showing its
recommended budget, the same budget it recommended to the Town Council earlier
this spring. The budget represents an increase of 6 percent over this year's.
Last month, however, the council adopted a school budget of $19.7 million,
up 4.6 percent over this year's, but $263,000 less than the budget recommended
by the School Board. That budget was rejected by voters in a school budget
validation June 10. In a second, advisory vote, the majority said they believed
the council's budget was too low.
Superintendent Alan Hawkins said he presented a new notice of amounts, listing
11 categories of recommended spending, to Assistant Town Manager Debra Lane
after the special meeting. "It looks exactly the same as the document that
presented the 6-percent budget," Hawkins said.
It is now up to the Town Council to consider the board's recommendation,
adopt a new budget and set it for a second validation vote. When that will
occur, however, is yet to be determined.
Town officials are waiting to hear from legal counsel as to whether a public
hearing is required for the council's budget adoption, said Town Clerk Ruth
Noble.
The next scheduled meeting of the Town Council is 7 a.m. Thursday, June 26.
The morning hour is unusual, but Town Council Chairman Mary Ann Lynch said
it was the only time that councilors could get together. The special meeting
was called to address other issues, but
Noble said the school budget may be added to that agenda.
Once the council adopts a new budget, the town has 14 days to hold another
validation election.
Five of the six members of the School Board voted in favor of the 6-percent
increase at their special meeting June 16. Board member Peter Cotter could
not attend because of work, Hawkins said.
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