Finance Board Votes To Cut $75,000 From Education Budget

At their June 1 public hearing to discuss cuts to the Board of Education (BOE) budget after it failed at a May 25 vote, the town's Board of Finance (BOF) voted to cut $75,000 from the already reduced budget, resulting in a $31,137,306 figure that will head to a third vote.

The third referendum vote will take place next Wednesday, June 8, from 6am to 8pm at Andrews Memorial Town Hall.

Registered voters as well as electors (those owning property in town valued at $1,000 or more on the current grand list) are encouraged to vote.

The public hearing, of which public comment comprised the majority of the meeting, was almost three hours in duration.

After Brad Sullivan, chair of the BOF spoke, he was followed by Deb Grass, chair of the BOE and Jack Cross, superintendent of schools.  More than 25 of the general public spoke both in favor of and against cuts to the education budget.

Some of the comments from the public included:

From Cynthia Daley: "Stop holding our children hostage."

From Pamela Fritz: "We don't want a zero increase - we want a decrease."

From Maria Moran: "After the second budget failed, my son asked why so many people wanted to aid in the destruction of our town."

From Martin Shapiro: "Wake up!  A month ago we approved a $9 million capital budget - there's money there for the projects that need it. Those who want a $1 decrease have their heads in the sand."

From Mark Auletta: "It takes money to educate. Let's think about our youth and our future and keep the budget where it is."

From Vincent Cimino: "Most of the people in town want their taxes lowered. We need to grow our grand list and be more attractive to businesses."

How the voting went:

At the conclusion of the public hearing, the six members of the BOF discussed the community's comments.

A motion was made to reduce the BOE budget by $25,000. That motion was not seconded so it died there.

A motion was made to reduce the BOE budget by $50,000 and was seconded. The vote was 2 to 4, motion failed.

A motion was made to reduce the BOE budget by $100,000 and seconded. Vote was a tie, 3 to 3, which does not pass a motion. It failed.

A motion was made to reduce the BOE budget by $75,000 and seconded. It passed by a vote of 4 to 2.

A motion was made to send the reduced BOE budget, $31,137,306 to a referendum vote June 8, and was seconded. The motion carried by a vote of 5 to 1.