Hebron Dollars & Sense

The initial budget target of 0% set early in the year by the BOS and BOF has been met by the recent action of the BOF. Although favorite items have been cut from everyone’s wish lists - from BOE’s expanded ADK and C&E, to the advocates of open space’s funding cut from a long term planned $422K to $100K – we must move forward.
We should support the budget for its passage and avoid a sizzling fuse to burn. Hopefully all boards will see the light next year when the stimulus money dries up and the community has to be able to cope with a decreasing revenue stream as well as ongoing expenses to the run the functioning of government.
I will continue to express my disapproval with the multi-million dollar administrative costs in the budgets the BOE and RHAM. I support mandated education, but not excessive six digit high level salaries.

Agree with your assessment. This is what a compromise is folks! Everyone walks away mildly unhappy. Vote yes!

Our household AGREES!!
I don't like "what was cut" and wish they did not "place" someone in the curriculum director position (easy 100K savings). I also believe the basic minutes of the BOE meetings indicate that this is a group of individuals with serious problems. I make this comment because of these reasons:

(1) No one appears to research a topic but simply rubber-stamps the items on the agenda as listed; (2) the board members do not engage in open discussion - I have no idea if agenda items are even discussed (certainly not in private since that isn't allowed!); (3) they treat each other and members of the community disrespectfully; (4) although so-called resident staff experts are sometimes present at the BOE meetings, they too do not add their comments/opinions to the discussion - aren't they paid for their expertise in a field?; (5) there "wait and see" attitude was not the pro-active mindset we need from the BOE. The BOE should have had a contingency plan in place if their first budget did not pass. When it did not -- they appeared to be scrambling for different scenarios and the public lost confidence when they used this approach.

The community would have offered more support and approval if the administration and the BOE explained the basis for some of the programs they were advocating. It would have also been beneficial if they were able to supply relevant data supporting their decisions. Not responding to specific questions of what expenses/savings would be realized, with the proposed changes offered to the public, was a terrible mistake on their part. Cutting programs that had an impact on the students made some parents very angry and nervous. The budget should have been cut by removing non-teaching staff, leaving the curriculum position open and making cuts to their "office" expenses. Open dialogue would have saved the day. It reached a point where everyone started questioning all the statements released to the public.

Hope next year's budget is tighter and takes into consideration the ever declining revenues. Actually if we can get bifurcation passed -- this too will open the BOE budget to closer scrutiny.

VOTE YES TO THE NEWEST ZERO BASE budget .... its the best they can do!!

It will Be A Yes Vote For Me

The Hboe Overplayed Their Hand BADLY

Gonna Hold their feet to The Fire For Sure No Matter what Still

If their $hennagins Of this Budget cycle Does Not Put Bifircation On The Front Burner For Approval, NOTHING WILL

Still curious As To What Will Be Cut In The Hboe side Of Things

More Scare & Bullying Tactics Or Sum Admin Cuts Instead

Ideas Welcome On What you folks Think Will Be included In The Next round Of Hboe Cuts

I've been hearing many of the previous "Yes voters/ADK supporters" saying they'll now vote NO. What do you think is the logic behind this? Is it backing up what Dube told the JI? This makes no sense to me but I haven't had a chance to talk to one of these people. Any idea?

I guess they think it's too low now, and they're hoping it will be increased if it's voted down again.