Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

The committee also voted 4 to 2 to investigate a student parking fee that would help pay for the elementary strings music.

That idea drew protests from people such as Francis J. Flynn, president of the teachers union, who said such a fee might be illegal because it targets one group.

One of the most contentious discussions came as the committee considered a motion to cut funding for an elementary math coach. Committee members rejected the idea after administrators said the district needs the coaches if it is going to improve in math.

Also rejected was a proposal to require all new administrative hires to pay 25 percent of their health insurance premiums. Despite the potential savings, such a move would make it harder to recruit administrators and would also discourage teachers from becoming administrators, some speakers said.

The meeting opened with a sobering address from Mayor Allan W. Fung, who described the city's financial outlook as bleak.

Fung told committee members that unless they need to make genuine attempts to reduce spending and seek concessions from employee unions, as he said he is doing on the city side.

Scherza's budget had assumed a 3-percent reduction in state aid and a 4.75-percent increase from the city -- the maximum allowed under state law. But Fung, who broke from concession talks with an employee union to come to the meeting, said that is more than the city has.

"I cannot give that money to you," he said.

Committee members voted to adopt the budget at about 5 minutes past midnight, ignoring criticism that they had not done enough to reduce spending.

A 4.75 percent increase from the city would have amounted to a $4.1 million allocation from the city for its schools next year. Based on last night's reductions, the schools are assuming a city allocation of about $2.7 million, committee members said.