DURHAM — After taking flak for "unchecked" and "excessive" budget increases in recent years, members of the Oyster River School Board on Wednesday said they will consider establishing a budget committee.
No such body currently exists. Surrounding communities like Dover, Somersworth, and Rochester have some form of school budget committee, which is typically charged with dissecting spending items and making recommendations.
Having one in place will ensure fiscal responsibility and make the budget process more transparent, several members of the Oyster River community told the School Board during a regular meeting Wednesday night.
"The public has demanded this for years," said Durham resident Seth Fiermonti, whose recent attempt to cut $15,000 from the school district's $38.8 million operating budget was voted down at a deliberative session.
He said having a budget committee will allow the School Board to focus on more pressing matters like curriculum improvement.
Others said they want the committee in place to protect against tax hikes.
"There are (budget) increases year after year," said Durham resident Roger Speidel. "It's unchecked, unsustainable, and unbelievable."
He said he wants the next budget to have a zero increase.
Board member Jennifer Rief said the current budget increased only 1.67 percent over last year — the third straight year an increase was held under 3 percent.
"It's extremely phenomenal," she said. "There's been a trend to being more fiscally responsible."
Fellow board member Krista Butts, who was elected in March after promising to make the budget process more transparent, said she drafted a budget committee proposal that will be discussed at the board's next meeting June 16.
The development came after Durham town administrators and members of the Town Council met with Superintendent Howard Colter in March to discuss residents' concerns about school spending.
Time for an advisory committee and get some outside recommendations to consider!
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