Hay: I'll Ask the $100,000 Question

City Councilor Stephan Hay said last night he intends to do everything he can to increase education funding for the next Fiscal Year, including not voting for a city budget that doesn't include some remedies and asking why the city's share of funding is down $100,000 from this year.

"We will go back to that," Hay said of the $100,000. "What the hell is that? It's a legitmate thing (to ask). Don't tell me you value education and spend $100,000 less than last year."

According to Mayor Dan Mylott's budget, the School Department budget would increase $2.3 million next year. The city is receiving $2.4 million in additional Chapter 70 state education aid, leaving a $100,000 gap in what the city pays this year and for next year. Last week, Councilor Stephen DiNatale said he was also interested in asking Mylott about the gap.

Hay has said he would like to the see save some of its money in a stabilization account, capital fund, or other long-term line item. He also says his top two priorities in the buedget are education and public safety.

"I'm not happy with the School Department budget," Hay said. He said the city has an obligation to fund education for students, noted the need for a strong school system and public safety services as an enticement to potential residents and business, and said the budget presentation by School Supt. Andre Ravenelle is the budget he has ever seen from any city department.

Hay bases that last part on Ravenelle's inclusion of long-term planning in the budget. For example, Ravenelle outlines plans for $900,000 in capital costs, but spreads those costs out over three years (hypothetical number from Hay). Hay was thrilled to see a department head take such a long-term outlook on a budget.

That long-term planning, however, might have been part of the department's trouble. Hay notes that last year, when the $2 million budget deficit was announced, Mylott told Hay the Police Department would not fill six open officer slots because it had been doing OK without them for a few months. After Wednesday's school budget hearing, Mylott told Hay something similar, saying the School Department would just have to take a little while longer to reach its goals.

Hay anticipates the School Department will get some additional funding through Medicare reimbursements. It would likely be somewhere the neighborhood of $300,000 to $400,000. Additionally, the city has hired a consultant to review the last three years of Medicare reimbursements, because often Medicare is under-billed, and there is a three-year window to recoup additional reimbursements. Hay would like all of any back-reimbursements to go to the School Department, but the thinks half might be more likely.

We're interested to hear what Mylott has to say about all this when eventually asked. We're interested to hear why the city is investing new money in other departments, but not education. We'd be particularly interested if Mylott took the stand that the School Department did very well through Chapter 70, and didn't need increased city support (Mylott regularly complains the state doesn't provide the city enough money).

It's good policy and good politics for councilors to stump for education and public safety. They are the city's two most important areas, and voters understand that and prioritize those departments. We're pleased Hay and DiNatale are interested in finding out Mylott's rationalization on this, and are eager to hear his response.