Monroe Board of Finance Talks School Budget Cuts During Packed Workshop: Report

MONROE, CT — In front of a packed Council Chambers, the Board of Finance held a budget workshop on the Board of Education's budget in the face of uncertain fiscal times for both the town and the state, reports the Monroe Courier.

At the meeting, Board of Finance chairman Mike Manjos said that both boards intend to work together to craft a budget that is least detrimental to students, saying that the board isn't looking to "the nuclear option," for the schools budget. Superintendent Jim Agostine told the board that the proposed schools budget is 2.5 percent more than the previous year's budget.

The district would need to cut $1 million from the budget in order to reach a zero percent increase. However, Agostine said that a zero percent increase could mean a reduction in staff, sports and student activities programming.

Several residents urged the board to not make steep cuts to the schools budget, because the state's budget has yet to be finalized.

Read more from the Monroe Courier here.

Image via the Town of Monroe Facebook Page.