An amendment by TM member Anne Mahon targeted at using free cash to preventing cuts at Belmont High School and preserving elementary library aides looked like a long shot, but won overwhelming support at Town Meeting last night. Where were you when you heard the Cat Leash speech?
Tag: budget
State: now is the time for Wellington
MSBA Executive Director Kathy Craven told Belmont voters that now was the time to act on funding a new Wellington Elementary School, and that $12.4m in State funding will be off the table, and given to other towns if the town fails to pass a debt exclusion in June.
Proposed cuts from House, Senate would hit education hard
Proposed cuts to local aid and a variety of programs supporting public education programs could hit Belmont, and other towns, hard.
School Committee meeting Tuesday is opportunity to speak out against cuts
Federal stimulus money may not avert staffing cuts. The School Committee meeting at Chenery Middle School Tuesday at 7:30 PM may be your best opportunity to speak out against cuts to teaching and support staff in Belmont’s Public Schools.
State’s fiscal freefall could jeopardize local aid
A precipitous drop in State revenues could jeopardize local aid payments and eviscerate funding for social services and education. Suddenly “Read my lips: No new taxes!” doesn’t sound so cool.
Crazy Idea bubbles up at Town Meeting
One that caught my eye in the Warrant for the meeting, however, harkened back to one of the crazy ideas that B2 floated in 2008, namely: a PILOT agreement with the Belmont Hill School.
Fed $ means no Prop 2 1/2 override this year
An estimated $1.3m in stimulus money will help stave off cuts to staffing and materials on the school side and, coupled with some savings from attrition, let the town squeak by for one more year without needing to raise property taxes.
Warrant Committee notes: pensions, public safety, sports all on the chopping block
Town leaders stared into the abyss on Wednesday, contemplating “what ifs” should the town not pass a Prop 2 1/2 override. Teacher and town layoffs, fee supported sports and reduced emergency services are all possibilities.
Get involved: important meetings happening this week
There’s a full schedule of important meetings this week covering everything from school funding to the town’s budget and an opportunity to have your thoughts on education heard by leaders at the state level. Check it out.
Wellington vote could come in April
A vote on a debt exclusion for the construction of Wellington Elementary School could make it onto the April ballot after all…if state and town officials can hammer out a funding agreement by the end of the day.