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Tonight’s hearing on the city budget was a grueling affair, but for decisions on layoffs and school cuts, voters will have to stay tuned tomorrow night (same time, same place). No doubt the city’s in tough fiscal shape and there’s not a lot of money, especially since the council is loathe to raise taxes more than the 2.5% in the manager’s budget—despite cost increases that impact every service. Tonight, the council determined it did not have the stomach to actually layoff 11 city employees as the manager proposed, although the 11 municipal positions cut through attrition are gone. The council also decided to delay its vote regarding the manager’s plan to cut $1.6 million, or nearly 8 percent, from its contribution to the schools—a cut that would undoubtedly require school layoffs. Instead, councilors directed the city manager to meet with the superintendent and develop a compromise—the number $800K was mentioned, which might appear fair except when you consider two facts: First, the Mass. Dept. of Revenue in an April 2007 document reports the city has not met its fiscal contribution to the schools for 11 consecutive years, and the carryover requires an additional $3 million in local aid—never mind cuts. And second, an $800K cut reduces the city’s contribution to its schools by 3.8%: I don’t think any city department is taking that percentage of cuts. To be fair, the city’s contribution to its schools should be cut the same percentage as other city departments (more on that tomorrow). 

Also tonight, for the first time at a council meeting, more than 25 local members of Stand for Children, the citizen group gaining momentum statewide and in Lowell, showed up in support of the school budget. Six active members (including me) spoke before the council, while other members stood in the balcony in a visual show of support. Also speaking in support of the school budget were fellow committee members John Leahy, Connie Martin, and Jim Leary. On a final note, it really bothered me that councilors Bud Caulfield and Rita Mercier said they could not remember when the city had sustained so many layoffs (the 11 proposed by the manager). Like most people, I don’t want to see layoffs, but this amnesia struck me because I remember quite clearly the budget hearings in 2003 when councilors (including those mentioned above) cut $10 million from the schools, which resulted in a 12% reduction in staff. Those positions and the people subsequently dismissed were very real losses to our community and especially our children—but apparently not to these two.    

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 29th, 2007 at 11:27 pm and is filed under Education, Local Politics, Money Matters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.