Approve the Lawrence spending plan

When Lawrence School District Superintendent Gary Schall retires on June 30, he will hand the administrative baton to Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ann Pedersen. She will inherit a district on solid financial footing.

By paying attention to the bottom line even before the state tax cap was implemented in 2012, and then taking a serious look at their budgets, Lawrence officials have corrected the fiscal faults of past administrations and boards of education. That has allowed the district to renovate buildings, expand educational offerings and rebound from the damage it sustained in Hurricane Sandy.

The proposed 2017-18 operating budget totals $100.78 million — a modest $1.22 million more than the current spending plan — and has a tax levy increase of 1.26 percent. The district received a commendation for financial management from the state comptroller’s office this year, after being categorized as having varying levels of financial stress a couple of years ago.

There are also two propositions on the ballot. One asks voters to authorize a transfer of up to $2 million of unreserved funds to the capital reserve fund for upgrades to the high school restrooms, middle school auditorium and both schools’ hallways, as well as electrical work at the middle school, districtwide lighting improvements, and roof replacement and other work at the middle school.

The other proposition would facilitate a transfer of up to $3.3 million of unreserved money to the capital reserve fund for the same improvements.
We urge voters to approve the budget and both propositions on Tuesday.

Mansdorf, Forman for trustee
Dr. Asher Mansdorf is running for his sixth three-year term on the Lawrence Board of Education. Mansdorf and Murray Forman, who is running for his fifth term, are part of the team that have steadied Lawrence’s financial footing.
Forman is unopposed. Asher Matathias is challenging Mansdorf.

This is the fourth consecutive year Matathias has run, and the second time in the past four years that he has taken on Mansdorf. Despite his understanding of district issues, Matathias has become a distraction at board meetings, and frequently launches verbal attacks on trustees, faculty members and the local media.
We endorse Forman and Mansdorf.

Say ‘yes’ to Peninsula Library budget
Peninsula Public Library officials also watch the bottom line, and their proposed $3.2 million budget increases spending only marginally over the current $3.17 million plan. We support the budget, and encourage voters to do so as well.

Sarah Yastrab is running unopposed for another five-year term on the library board, where she and her colleagues are planning a new library building. Yastrab has our endorsement.