2024-05-02 — Whitman FY25 Budget
From: "Ottina.Kathleen <KOttina@whitman-ma.gov>" <KOttina@whitman-ma.go
To: beth.stafford@whrsd.org; Jeffrey
Bcc: jeffrey.szymaniak@whrsd.org
Date: 2024-05-02 18:40
Subject: Whitman FY25 Budget
Good evening, Jeff and Beth,
This email is meant to assure you that the Town of Whitman does have the funds available to fully
fund its operating assessment of $19,135,687 without an override. If during the course of the next
several weeks voters in Whitman and Hanson take actions that result in a rejected budget, I urge
you, when you convene the School Committee to reconsider the budget, to stand firm in your
conviction that the current assessments are needed to provide the School Department with the funds
needed to educate the children of Whitman and Hanson. The 5% earmark that both towns have
designated will result in the loss of eight elementary school teachers in Whitman and seven teachers
grades 2-8 in Hanson. That is unconscionable. Teachers are as important as firefighters and police
officers when it comes to the quality of life in the two towns.
Please continue to advocate for the School Budget. It may be painful from time to time, but it will be
worth the fight in the long run.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Ottina,
Whitman Finance Committee Vice-chair and liaison to the WHRSD■
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