I have just a few more tidbits for this community to digest. I am anxiously awaiting Mr. Plume's response to this letter to the editor. For the record, Mr. Plume did not disprove any figures which were presented. In fact, he did a great impression of Fred Astaire.
The Auburn Board of Education announced in December 2000 that there was a budget deficit of $600,000. The board explained this deficit by blaming the prior board and prior school administration.
As a result of this so-called deficit, the board eliminated spring sports. As such, the students were asked to go door to door selling tickets and begging for donations just so they could play sports in the coming spring. The students and this community raised more than $100,000 to save the athletic program.
Was this necessary? What happened to the money raised by the community? What happened to the deficit?
Answer: As the public had already approved the 1999-2000 budget in May of 2000, that outgoing board left this district with a fund balance of $2,789,089. The new board, under new leadership, which included Judy Freeman, amended the budget without voter approval, and charged the secretaries contract to the already passed 1999-2000 budget. This action reduced the fund balance by $1,202,395, but that still left a positive fund balance of $1,586,694. Furthermore, at the end of the 2000-2001 fiscal year, the school district still had a positive fund balance of $1,121,039. What happened to the $600,000 deficit? Does the fund balance include the missing $100,000 raised by the kids and the booster clubs? I think it does.
If not, where then is the missing $600,000, and where is the $100,000? It is impossible to have a budget deficit when you have a fund balance of more than $1 million. So Mr. Plume, where is the money?
Dr. David Walrath, at the reorganizational meeting of CO$T, informed the attending audience that the state was responsible for the majority of increases in the county budgets and taxes. Mr. Plume and Mr. Brandstetter, however, at the same meeting, disavowed any responsibility for increasing the school budgets and taxes. According to them, it is the fault of other administrations and other school boards. The evidence says different. In my opinion, the prior administration had this district on the right track and had the financial interests of the district on a sound foundation.
Mr. Plume and Mr. Stearns, although well-meaning individuals, have misled this community and caused undo anxiety to not only the children of this district, but to the sports boosters and to the parents and grandparents. They supported the students when everyone thought this district was in dire straits.
Nothing could be further from the truth. If this is all a misunderstanding on my part, if these figures which I received from the school district are in fact false, I implore Mr. Plume to tell this community what happened to the deficit, and to the missing booster money.
As a result of this so-called deficit, the board eliminated spring sports. As such, the students were asked to go door to door selling tickets and begging for donations just so they could play sports in the coming spring. The students and this community raised more than $100,000 to save the athletic program.
Was this necessary? What happened to the money raised by the community? What happened to the deficit?
Answer: As the public had already approved the 1999-2000 budget in May of 2000, that outgoing board left this district with a fund balance of $2,789,089. The new board, under new leadership, which included Judy Freeman, amended the budget without voter approval, and charged the secretaries contract to the already passed 1999-2000 budget. This action reduced the fund balance by $1,202,395, but that still left a positive fund balance of $1,586,694. Furthermore, at the end of the 2000-2001 fiscal year, the school district still had a positive fund balance of $1,121,039. What happened to the $600,000 deficit? Does the fund balance include the missing $100,000 raised by the kids and the booster clubs? I think it does.
If not, where then is the missing $600,000, and where is the $100,000? It is impossible to have a budget deficit when you have a fund balance of more than $1 million. So Mr. Plume, where is the money?
Dr. David Walrath, at the reorganizational meeting of CO$T, informed the attending audience that the state was responsible for the majority of increases in the county budgets and taxes. Mr. Plume and Mr. Brandstetter, however, at the same meeting, disavowed any responsibility for increasing the school budgets and taxes. According to them, it is the fault of other administrations and other school boards. The evidence says different. In my opinion, the prior administration had this district on the right track and had the financial interests of the district on a sound foundation.
Mr. Plume and Mr. Stearns, although well-meaning individuals, have misled this community and caused undo anxiety to not only the children of this district, but to the sports boosters and to the parents and grandparents. They supported the students when everyone thought this district was in dire straits.
Nothing could be further from the truth. If this is all a misunderstanding on my part, if these figures which I received from the school district are in fact false, I implore Mr. Plume to tell this community what happened to the deficit, and to the missing booster money.
Citizen
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