AUBURN – Mary Wilkins said she picked the sidewalk across Court Street from Auburn Hall for a protest for a very simple reason.

“That’s where we put the money that’s not going to the schools,” Wilkins said. “It says No Steps Backwards’? Well, this is a giant leap backward for Auburn schools.”

Wilkins was one of eight adults holding signs along Court Street Tuesday afternoon, protesting the way city budget discussions are going. Wilkins said they’ll be back each day, from 3 to 6 p.m., through Friday.

Wilkins, a private physical therapist who contracts for jobs with the school department, said she was moved to action by her daughter, an Edward Little High School student.

“She came home upset that she didn’t think she’d get the classes she needs next year,” Wilkins said. “They were all very up upset about it, and that made me upset.”

Schools asked for a $1.4 million increase in their fiscal 2005 budget when talks began last month. City staff wanted a $400,000 increase in the municipal budget. Both have backed off of those increases in recent weeks, however. Instead, councilors have vowed to keep the city’s tax rate level at $29.38 per $1,000 of value.

Keeping the property tax rate level would mean cuts for both school and city departments. Revenues – state aid to education, roads and revenue sharing – have decreased by $60,554. Meanwhile, costs like health insurance that can’t be cut continue to rise.

Municipal officials say they will reduce their budget by $60,554. That will allow the schools to keep their budget at $29.72 million, the same as now.

School officials want the city to transfer $140,563 to the schools budget, cutting the municipal side by $201,107.

Councilors will continue their budget talks June 7, with a public hearing on the budget so far.

Sue Martin, of 186 Davis St., another of the Court Street protesters, doubts there’s anything malicious in the budgets.

“The biggest thing for me, is I don’t want to see my taxes increase, either,” she said. “I just want the city to re-evaluate their priorities in this budget.”

Education is economic development, added Wilkins.

“You can spend on economic development, but if my daughter can’t get into the college she wants because of cuts to her high school classes, what good does it do me to live here?” she asked.

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