Canon-McMillan: There Will Be No Tax Increase

Canon-McMillan school directors next week are expected to approve a 2011-12 spending plan that includes no tax increase, the district’s director of business and finance confirmed at the board’s meeting tonight.

Joni Mansmann thanked each of the district’s unions, as well as its administrators—all of which agreed to wage freezes. .

She said that the administration is working to reconfigure the budget to include the new concessions, and to see what teaching positions and other cuts can be reinstated.

A press release detailing the wage freezes and other concessions would be sent to media outlets Tuesday, Mansmann confirmed.

While exact figures for the budget were not presented Monday, she said one thing was certain.

“We do know at this time the budget will not include any furloughs,” she added.

CMEA President Tammy Laur later stood up under the public comment portion of the meeting and thanked the board and administration for entering into negotiations with the union—and said the “spirit of cooperation” would continue.

“Our goal of not having any furloughs was accomplished,” she said.

Residents had packed into the scant meeting space, quickly filling the three rows of chairs, and then filing in behind the board table and anywhere else they could stand.

Parents stood up one after one and thanked the board for the no-increase in the budget, and several students addressed directors to implore them to reinstate cuts in the art and music programs.

One student presented a petition signed by more than 900 students and residents. Another recently graduated senior, Ben Lombardo, said several others were in rotation and would be presented to the board at its next meeting.

Editor's Note: Check back with Canon-McMillan Patch tomorrow for more details.