Opinion: On Supporting The Budget

The month of May brings many things: warmer weather, longer daylight hours, and bouts of spring fever. In school district terms however, it means the many months of discussing and planning the school budget have come to an end and it’s time for the community to unite and vote. Each year as your parent leaders at , we make a plea for you to support the budget.  This year will be no different.

We have attended the numerous Board of Education meetings and have heard the many reports of state aid decreasing, the unfunded state mandates, and the increase in costs.  We have heard countless members of the community voice their opinions as to what should and should not be included in this year’s budget.  We have voiced our opinions during this process as well.  We know that in these difficult financial times, the Board of Education and Administration have had a very difficult task.  

We believe they have done their best to put forward a budget that is educationally sound and fiscally responsible.  Perhaps there are items in this budget that some individuals disagree with.  Perhaps there are items we would like to have seen added in this budget.

Whatever the case, we must all vote yes. Defeating the proposed budget will make virtually no difference in the average household’s tax burden but will come at a very high cost to our schools and our children if a contingency budget is put in place. No one can afford that.

One of the many reasons we have all chosen Port Washington as the place to raise and educate our children is the excellence of the school system.  As parents and community members, it is our duty to ensure that Port’s children continue to have all the tools to succeed.  As parents and community members, we must all vote yes on May 17.  As Weber parent leaders of the past, present and future, we will be voting yes.  We urge everyone to do the same.

Editor's Note: The authors,  Karen Sambursky, Emily Beys, Mariann Dalimonte and Mary Alice Kohs serve on the executive board at of Weber's HSA. The views expressed in this posting are solely those of the authors.