Southborough officials may be hoping for more consensus around the town budgeting process this year, but when it comes to school budgets, consensus may be hard to come by. The Board of Selectmen and Advisory Committee earlier this month asked town departments to prepare an initial set of budgets for next year that are reduced by 1% over the current year. At their meeting last week, the Regional School Committee said they don’t plan to comply with that request.
Superintendent Charles Gobron told the school committee that a 1% decrease on the Southborough side would translate to at least an 8% cut in the regional budget due to enrollment numbers that determine how much each town pays for Algonquin. Gobron said such a cut would not be sustainable.
From the Metrowest Daily News:
“I think it’s important to understand where our member communities stand financially,” Northborough member Shirley Lundberg said. “I don’t think it’s our beginning driver.”
Fellow members agreed, saying they think the proper approach is to first look at the needs of Algonquin Regional High School and then see what can be cut from there.
You can read more in this article by the MWDN. The budget season has barely begun and already it looks like the town and schools are setting up on opposite sides. What do you think this means for voters? Should the school committee make more of an effort to comply with the request of Southborough officials? Or do you think the budget process should be need-driven as the school committee insists? Share your thoughts in the comments.
