Submitted by Leslie Moriarty and David Weisbrod
On October 21, the BET approved FY 27 guidelines (without a single Democratic vote) recommending a $3.7 million reduction to the Board of Ed continuation budget. The reduction lowers the target budget to a level that does not cover teacher salaries and the new bus contract. The guidelines were written on the fly, in a back room and presented at the BET meeting without prior discussion. We made a motion to adjourn, to enable review and evaluation – but to no avail. There was neither a formal document in hand to evaluate nor even a financial exhibit outlining what was being proposed.
Notwithstanding our objection, haste, confusion and mayhem ensued. The Republican majority demanded a vote. The guidelines were approved.
A short week later, after waves of community blowback, BET Chair Fisher, asserts that the guidelines will not be released. We wish Mr. Fisher had acted more wisely last Tuesday, but now the damage is done. Simply stated, Mr. Fisher does not have the authority to withhold a public document voted on by the BET. The public should not be denied access to these approved guidelines.
If the BET Republicans favor ramming though their agenda without bipartisan consultation and so obviously at odds with the will of the community – it should be visible to all. Suppressing a public act after the fact not only violates FOIA but violates the trust that public officials owe to those who voted to put them in office.
Leslie Moriarty David Weisbrod are Democratic members of the Board of Estimate and Taxation
Note: The deadline to submit letters to the editor about candidates for consideration in the Nov 4, 2025 municipal elections is Oct 28, 2025 at 12:00 noon. This letter was submitted before the deadline.