The idea of a tax override to prevent massive school layoffs has drawn mixed reaction so far.
The School Committee plans to talk with the Town Council and Finance Committee about giving townspeople an alternative to the cuts that will be required under the budget proposed by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.
While Nutting's budget gives $800,000 more for schools than last year's budget of $54.6 million (a 1.5 percent increase, totaling $55.4 million), the district needs $58.6 million - a 7.4 percent increase - just to maintain the same level of services and keep teachers and staff, said School Superintendent Wayne Ogden.
Ogden has outlined some of the major impacts of accepting Nutting's proposed budget of $55.4 million: 45 layoffs (mostly teachers), elimination of the late bus, a pay-to-ride fee hike, and increased class sizes.
Town Councilor Stephen Whalen said he "fully supports" putting a Proposition 2 1/2 tax override question before voters.
"It would be extremely difficult to get it passed, but in my opinion, its passage would be in the best interests of the town," Whalen said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
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In continued budget hearings last night, the Finance Committee approved several departmental budgets including a reduction in the library budget that the library director adamantly opposed.
Franklin Public Library Director Felicia Oti requested a $976,985 budget, a figure that would allow her to fund replacing two full-time-equivalent positions in the children's department, but the committee instead approved about $800,000 as proposed by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.
The library's budget last year was $925,196, said Finance Committee Chairman Jim Roche.
Prior to the vote, Oti argued that the library is understaffed and that morale is at "an all-time low."
"It's the lowest it's been in the 10 years I've been at the library," Oti said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
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