On Saturday, May 30, another attempt to get a school budget passed in the town of Hopkinton will take place via drive-thru voting at the high school from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The ballot will ask voters to approve Article 3, Motion 6, a budget of $21,072,696, a “decrease” of $343,635.
The important part to mention is the use of the word “decrease.” Is this a decrease to the school board’s original proposed budget, that failed by a record number of votes on May 16?
Yes.
Is this a decrease to their budget compared to their budget last year? No.
This proposed budget is still a $539,651 increase to their budget from last year. This is not responsible during a pandemic. Businesses are closing. Families are struggling. People have lost their jobs.
Calling a slightly smaller increase a decrease, when it is still an increase to their budget, to the tune of over half a million dollars more, is clever but deceptive.
If you have to confuse people to get them to approve your budget, there is something wrong with it. The fundamental issue is asking us as a town to come up with an additional $500,000 in the midst of a pandemic causing economic ruin for families and businesses. It is unconscionable and shows a complete disregard for the genuine uncertainty we are all facing financially.
Hopkinton must vote no on Article 3, Motion 6. This needs to be the year we do not accept increases.
CATHARINE LEDOUX MATTEO
Hopkinton