More to come later, but the Wake County school board voted 6-3 tonight to approve Superintendent Tony Tata's $1.2 billion operating budget request.
The budget looked like it would be rejected until Republican board member Chris Malone crossed party lines to join the five Democrats in voting yes. His vote was needed because the budget required two-thirds approval to waive board policy allowing the district to use more than half its fund balance to balance the budget.
Malone called it a pragmatic budget, pointing to how state law requires it to be adopted by May 15 and how they were facing a new paradigm forcing the district to make tough budget decisions, including using $28.9 million in fund balance.
Democrats Kevin Hill and Jim Martin initially said they would vote no but wound up voting yes after staff said they'd look at modifying the budget to reduce the cut to school instructional supplies.
The three Republicans who voted no cited a variety of reasons, such as the requested $8.8 million increase from the county was too high, there were too many unanswered questions, whether the school system should use more fund balance to reduce the $8.8 million increase and whether Wake should have a fund balance.
Comments
Really?
Tue, 05/01/2012 - 23:33 — cmalone1I'm going to do for you what you are not and give u the benefit of the doubt.
What I said was it was the law. We would be back next week too approve it as a matter of state law. So why not be pragmatic and do it now.2nd I said we no longer live in the salad days of the middle part of the last decade. The days of adding stuff to the budget are gone. It time to realize we are in a new paradigm of fiscal pain and would have to prioritize one wish over another. Finally I said we could no longer use non recurring funds for recurring expenditures. You know like hiring cops or teachers with a grant and then raising taxes when the money runs out. Or in our case using fund balance. Even Paul Coble railed against that. So if making tough decisions and being tightfisted in bad times is anti conservative then let me and others who believe fiscal responsibility is the coin of realm know that. I must have missed that memo.
Spin it how you want...
Wed, 05/02/2012 - 01:34 — concerned2You have filled our mailboxes with hypocrisy saying you'll stand against liberals even if you're alone.
While your fellow Republicans have many questions they'd like answered, you say, "We'll have to pass it next week anyway, so why not now?" Seems a week for some due diligence would be ok. You're claiming that all the other Republicans and the Commissioners are wrong and you and the Democrats are right.
Seems to me "making tough decisions" is trying to figure out how to get along without the $8.8m since you'll have to fight the Commissioners for it anyway.
I suppose your idea of being "pragmatic" is 1) Vote with the Democrats since we'll have to address this next week, and 2) Might as well climb another rung on the ladder since Democrats are in the majority anyway.
Sounds like a typical politician...
Just Wondering?
Wed, 05/02/2012 - 09:40 — openmindConcerned2,
Just wondering how many children you currently have in the school system. Are you one of those parents that didn't complain at all when the money in the system was benefitting their own child, but now that they may not have children in the system they complain about everything. Don't ask for more money, make due with what you have. But when it benefitted your child it was ok. I don't know if this is the case, and I really hope it is not. But I guess we can see when you eventually respond.
Don't be a bozo
Wed, 05/02/2012 - 09:05 — Bob_SconceStanding against liberals just for the sake of standing against liberals is idiotic. If the liberals happen to have, somehow, put their zaniness aside and actually adopt the correct position, then Chris should not be voting against it just to vote against liberals. That's utterly stupid.
Figures. Chris Malone shows his true colors!
Tue, 05/01/2012 - 22:48 — concerned2After filling my box with mail that says he would "stand alone" against the liberals, and fought against raising taxes, he helps the Democrats pass an irresponsible budget!
The last place I want him is in the Legislature, and I'll vote against him in the next School Board election!
Despicable! Politics as usual!
Totally not Malone's fault
Wed, 05/02/2012 - 17:41 — mevans27587I am gonig to stick up for Malone here. I appreciate the fact that he went ahead and passed it. What is one week going to change? I have dealt with him personally via email and found him to really care about the students (i.e. answering my questions personally, etc). The economy is horrible and he was making the best of a bad situation. The school board should not be a political place even though in Wake County it is. Malone stated during the meeting that he could live with this budget. Not that he was thrilled. You can't make everyone happy especially in this economy!
What's irresponsible about it?
Tue, 05/01/2012 - 23:40 — FSandYOUIf they hadn't voted to at least ask for the money you and many others would be peeing in your soup over that.
??
Wed, 05/02/2012 - 01:41 — concerned2My problem is that they're asking for more money. First, the Commissioners have already signaled that they're in a tight spot as it is and won't be handing out any more money. Then, like liberals always do, they go ahead and ask for more money. I suppose they figure there will be a squabble and they'll end up for some measure of what they've asked for.
The common sense thing would have been to try to live on what they have like the rest of us. Which of us will do without police, fire, or emergency protection because funding had to be diverted. Or will we just all pay higher taxes for it?
Malone is hypocritical to run for another job (NC House) and claim that he's the one who will stand up to liberals, but at the first bump in the road he sides with the Dems so he won't have to attend another meeting next week.
Huh?
Wed, 05/02/2012 - 11:03 — Bob_SconceThe county does a lot more than just provide emergency personnel and even there, some can be cut -- as municipalities incorporate more land, the Sheriff's duties should shrink. Here are some items in the County Budget which could be reduced. Number in parenthesis are the amounts that this increased between 2010 and 2012. For comparison, WCPSS's percentage increase over that period was 0.29%
(1) Cut the Finance (21.15%) & Revenue (18.7%) Departments.
(2) Cut the Community Services Management & Budget Office (2.46%)
(3) Cut the Veterans Services (2.39%)
(4) Cut personnel in the GIS department (salaries/benefits: 1.46%)
(5) Cut Physical Plant budget (16.23%)
(6) Cut Cenral Services personnel (salaries/benefits: 0.77%)
(7) Cut Field Services (4.68%)
(8) Cut Behavioural Health Services (4.2%)
(9) Cut Huam Services Administration (1.47%)
(10) Cut Sheriff (6.11%)
Amen to your post
Wed, 05/02/2012 - 22:15 — occum_sharpeand thank god Chapel Hill does not want growth and industry.
This absolutely ridiculous attendance plan is already sending perspective newcomers streaming into Chapel Hill to avoid the uncertainty of Wake County Schools and this coupled with the commissions unwillingness to invest in our schools is going to put a real hurting on the city of Raleigh. It's amazing how Durham doesn't look so bad anymore.
Anyone who is here now and unhappy
Thu, 05/03/2012 - 04:10 — FSandYOUis free to sell and then move to Dooham, better plan to get a concealed weapons permit first, or Chapel Hill, don't forget to turn off your phone before you start your car, anytime they wish.
What's hilarious is those who JUST NOW want to whine about how newcomers want to avoid the uncertainty with this new plan, so they might be looking elsewhere. To those newcomers, be glad you didn't arrive during the last 2 decades. Their solution during that time was to create uncertainty by reassigning your children to different schools constantly. Why just over the last 3 years there were over 30,000 moved around. Real stable there huh.
As for the poor city of Raleigh getting a real hurt put on it, school assignment is the least of its problems. Did you see who they elected as their new leader? Same as the old, but not nearly as bright. Good luck with that.
Wow, thanks for posting
Wed, 05/02/2012 - 11:19 — jenmanWow, thanks for posting those percentages. That's really eye-opening.
live on what they have like the rest of us?
Wed, 05/02/2012 - 10:16 — EBDarcyBut that isn't the situation. WCPSS has added 15,000 students without any real increase in funding. It would have been great if the BOC had maintained per student funding but they didn't do that. Wasn't it just last year that the BOC claimed they couldn't give the schools more $$, and Margiotta helped them out by not even asking, then turned around and gave employees a salary increase?