AUBURN – The School Committee has officially approved a new $31.4 million budget more than a month after the City Council approved it and three weeks after the fiscal year started.
In May, the City Council had pared down the School Committee’s recommended budget, telling members to cut $350,000.
They did, agreeing to lay off a technology teacher, hold off filling four other teaching positions, trim $7,000 in overtime pay, cut $8,900 in supplies and trim $5,500 from the Adult Education program.
They also approved combining some middle and high school bus routes to save fuel and bus driver pay.
The City Council voted on the new budget in June, but the School Committee still had to hold its own formal vote for the new amount.
On Wednesday, committee members voted 4-0 to approve it. Theodore Belitsos abstained, as he did when the committee voted to lay off the technology teacher.
He said he didn’t feel comfortable approving a smaller school budget, which was mandated by the City Council, when councilors didn’t stick to their own city budget cuts.
“I don’t know that I’m ready to forgive that yet and let bygones be bygones,” he said.
Although the School Committee generally approves the final budget before the new fiscal year begins, the late vote will have no ill effects since the City Council had already approved the bottom line, said Superintendent Barbara Eretzian.
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