At the December 9 Selectboard meeting, a comment was made that might have slipped past most people. A member thanked the School Committee for “voting for the balanced budget because it is required by law.”

I wrote a letter to correct the record immediately. Not to be difficult, but to protect the integrity of our process.

In municipal finance, the Order of Operations is critical.

1. The School Committee creates a budget based on educational need.
2. The Town Manager reviews revenue and constraints.
3. The Town Manager recommends a balanced budget to the Selectboard.

When officials imply that the School Committee’s recommendation is legally capped, it creates a dangerous narrative. It suggests that the cuts we made were our choice, rather than a fiscal necessity imposed by revenue limits.

This distinction isn’t academic. When we blur these lines, we gaslight our educators. If we claim we voted for a particular budget number “because it’s the law,” we are hiding behind a statute to avoid owning our decisions.

As I wrote in my letter to the Board: “The School Committee’s recommendation is separate and distinct from the town’s legal requirement to present a balanced budget”.

We must be honest about the gap between what we need and what we can afford. Blurring that line helps no one. I will continue to be a stickler for these details, because accuracy is the foundation of trust.

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Note: The views and opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect the official policies, positions, or endorsements of the Duxbury School Committee. For official information about Duxbury Public Schools and the Duxbury School Committee, please visit duxbury.k12.ma.us.