Keep Framingham Affordable
Working to Keep Your | 
|
Every tax is a pay cut. |
|---|
| School budget gap could be one of the biggest in years | Friday, February 24, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Tyler B. Reed 508-626-4423 | Metrowest Daily News |
|
FRAMINGHAM -- The school district -- likely to be slammed next year by hikes
in the cost of electricity, transportation and teacher salaries -- is facing
its largest budget deficit in recent memory, according to early estimates.
School officials say the projected gap probably will shrink in the coming months. Even so, "It was one of the biggest numbers we've seen, if not the biggest," said Vice Chairman David Miles. Pegged at $5.7 million, the shortfall is higher than in 2002, when the town voted for a Proposition 2 1/2 override to close the gap, and, in 2003, when the district closed an elementary school to save money. Superintendent Christopher Martes told the School Committee on Feb. 7 it needs a $6 million budget increase next year to avoid cuts. Preliminary estimates from the town's chief financial officer, Mary Ellen Kelley, give the schools $300,000. "Right now, I'm looking at we're going to have to do some cutting. I'm just not sure yet of the magnitude," Martes said yesterday. Officials usually are conservative with their early projections, and the gap could shrink, Martes said. But to avoid significant cuts, "everything needs to break our way." The School Committee will resume budget talks at its next meeting on Tuesday. "I think this year is going to be tougher," School Committee member Phil Dinsky said. "I don't see any magic monies coming out any hats." Dinsky is confident the shortfall will narrow, but, he said, "It's probably going to be a tougher year than we've seen in a while." When the School Committee foresees a financial pinch, it sometimes freezes spending at the end of a fiscal year to save money for the next year, Dinsky said. The schools also call off filling open staff jobs before contemplating cutting programs, Miles said. "We always try to look at programs last." The district might consider increasing class sizes to save on teacher salaries, Miles said. The School Committee has asked its administrative assistant to research class sizes in surrounding districts. "I've had conversations with a couple people about class sizes," he said. "I think that will become an issue." |
|
Send comments to:
hjw2001@gmail.com
|
|