Community Corner

Council Member on School Budget: "We Have a Lot of Decisions to Make"

John Kopec was the only council member at the budget vote on Monday.

Town Council member John Kopec on Monday offered a quick, candid response to the $51,669,787 school system budget approved by the Board of Education for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

"We have a lot of decisions to make … a lot of work to do," said Kopec, a member of the council's Republican majority.

The bottom line represents an increase of $3,488,790 over the $48,180,997 spending plan for the current fiscal year. That's 7.24 percent more. 

As the lone Town Council member present at the special meeting, Kopec was displeased about one school board member saying it was not its responsibility to estimate what the town can afford, but just put together a budget based on what it takes to operate the schools. 

"We're bvioth elected officials," Kopec said of the school board and council. "We all answer to the public whether we think so or not."

The budget is scheduled to me on MayorGeorge Apel's desk by Friday. The council is scheduled to meet Tuesday night at 7:30.

Kopec said the council may or may not adopt a budget schedule then. It would have to be added to the agenda.

"Some Board of Education officials seem to think we are the only body that can take action," Kopec said. "We are all in this."


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