Canon-McMillan: No Budget Increase This Year

The Canon-McMillan School Board voted 5-4 Monday to approve its 2011-12 spending plan—one that includes no tax increase.

Just before the budget vote, Director Joe Zupancic amended the motion to approve the spending plan to include an earmark for an assistant high school administrator position that had at one point been included in the budget, but was taken out last week.

He and other directors said they were concerned that eliminating the position would make it more difficult for administrators to deal with any discipline issues at the high school—a notion Darla Bowman-Monaco said she agreed with.

That amendment passed 6-3, with directors Eric Kline, Manuel Pihakis and Paul Scarmazzi casting the no votes.

Pihakis and others said they believed that if the district's budget reserve would be tapped, another teacher or reinstatement of the mid-day kindergarten transportation should be priorities instead.

"I know people who have lost their jobs over it. I've gotten calls," Pihakis said, shaking his head and referring to the mid-day kindergarten bus run that was cut during budget talks.

The motion to approve the district's $59.9 million budget then passed by a vote of 5-4.

Kline, Scarmazzi, Pihakis, Zeffie Carroll cast the dissenting votes.

Pihakis said his no vote reflected his opposition to the earmark for an assistant high school principal.

After the meeting, board President Debbie Link again thanked everyone who helped during the budget process—including the district's administrators and labor unions, which agreed to (copies of those agreements are attached).

Parents and other residents in attendance agreed, many standing up and thanking the board and other district groups for helping stave off furloughs, cuts and a tax increase this year.