Mendon selectman met last night to discuss their next steps on handling the re-certified regional school budget. On May 21 the Regional School Committee unanimously voted to re-certify the FY16 budget at the same level originally proposed.
Mendon voters had passed the first certified budget at their annual town meeting but the measure failed at the ballot box. Upton voters supported the budget at both their annual town meeting and at the ballot box.
Last night the board unanimously decided to send the re-certified budget directly to a ballot vote for Mendon voters to decide. On June 30 Mendon will hold a special election for a proposition 2 1/5 over ride in the amount of 1.13 million dollars.
Mendon Selectman Chris Burke said in respect to the second override request, “If it (the second override) is failed the school committee has two options; they have an option to accept the voice the Mendon and respect the voters of Mendon and re-certify at a level funded budget, or its on them to choose to move forward to a joint town meeting. That’s not up to the board, that is up to the school committee. At that point if they do go to joint town meeting and it is approved this board of selectman and the tax payers of Mendon will have no choice but to determine how we are going to fund that expenditure.”
According to officials, should the school budget end up at a joint town meeting and pass at the current certified amount Mendon would be looking at cutting 1.13 million dollars from the town services side of the budget. The following area of town services would be defunded should that come to fruition.
- Library
- Council on Aging
- Parks and Recreation
- Engineering Consulting
- Emergency Management
- Historical Commission
- Memorial Day Expenses
- Eliminations of Selectmen stipends
- Reduction in reserves for salary negotiations
- Transition to call Fire Department
- Change public safety director to police chief
- Hiring freeze at the Police Department – not fill current vacancies
- Moving part-time building inspector to a payment plan
- Lay off of highway department laborer
- Halt the operation of all town street lights
Members Rich Schofield and Chris Burke are in favor of the override. Schofield said, “I voted for the override and I would vote for it again.” Member Reil is not in favor of the override but said he would have been in favor of a level services budget. “I am not pleased that the school committee came back with the same number,” he said.
According to officials a level services school budget would still require a large override pass the town of Mendon. Level funding the school district would in 1.5 million dollars in cuts which represents cutting approximately 30 full-time positions, increasing sports costs, bigger class sizes, less elective class options at the high school, the loss of a business teacher at the high school, and longer bus routes.
UPTON DAILY 