Dear Group,

The facts are simple: If 1.6 million dollars is not tranferred from
the "municipal side" of the Administrator's proposed budget to
the "school side", Newport will have to close a school. With only 2
months before the next school year's opening, this will become a
logistical nightmare. It should also be pointed out that even if a
school is "surplussed" and later sold, the money stays in the
general fund and may not reach the "school side" of the budget.

It should be pointed out that both Ms. Sitrin and Mr. Smith did an
excellent job preparing a consumer friendly budget proposal. It
just so happens that their priorities do not match many in the
Campaign for the Future of Newport County (CFNC). The City Charter
demands that the Superintendant set a general course. The School
Committee refines that course based partially on voter input. The
Council takes from the day to day officers, Finance Director and
Administrator, an idea of what is pragmatic. The Council combines
this reading with what has emerged from the School Committee
as "necessary and ideal." Somewhere in between, a budget compromise
arises. This year we are $1.6 million apart.

I have very little critisism of the honorable Administrator's budget
except in the area of priorities. By resetting priorities, the $1.6
million can be found.

1. The Administrator includes in this year's budget 3.5 NEW
municipal positions. He also funds 10.5 positions from last year
that were not funded. This all means that 14 people more will work
for the city next year than did this year. In a No Child Left
Behind environment, where teachers are laid off routinely, this is
unnacceptable. A compromise might be to let stand the new 3.5
positions but only add 1.5 of the 10.5 from last year. Projected
savings: $400,000.

2. There have been no municipal layoffs in some time. While we do
not support the laying off of union employees, the laying off of 2
non-union employees could save another $100,000.

3. The Administrator would like to invest $2.8 million of the
surplus, leaving the surplus at a very healthy %5.18, on
infrastructure. Before the last budget meeting, if most citizens
were told we were going to spend $2 million on infrastructure, they
would have been happy. Therefore, $500 thousand to Thompson debt
service, $200 thousand loan for general school funding to be repaid
over the next 5 years, $80 thousand to the police department for new
cruisers and $20 thousand to the Cliff walk for Cleanup. The
municipality still gets its $2 million investment and everyone is
happy.

4. Ugly things the Superintendant can do will save $400,000. These
include one principal for two schools in many cases and the cutting
of some sports programs.

The problem is, even though the budget as proposed by the
Administrator may fail 4-3, the program I just proposed fails the
same way. The detailed "whip analysis" of the budget process is too
long and complicated to post here. Anyone interested in helping
turnover one or two votes can email me BobbyO1967@... or call me
at 846-0343.

Take Care
Bobby Oliveira