An article last week stated that I wanted to see an increase in the school budget of 1.1 percent or 1.2 percent for the schools. While I did ask the School Board to continue working and try to decrease the budget a bit more, I did not come close to asking for this amount as suggested. It was Councilors Livingston and Jalbert who asked for this level of increase with some support from Councilor Blake, who also added he would listen to the full proposal.

 

One could review the tape and see that I clearly suggested that the overall increase would be better received if it came in closer to 3 percent overall or somewhere near a 1.5 percent increase on the operating budget. I also concurred with Mayor Smith and Councilor Beecher that some cut would help, but that it should not devastate programs so if a little more was warranted, I would be open to hear that too.