The School Audit Is Done. Why Won’t Enfield Release It Before You Vote?
Enfield Town Hall The town has the audit triggered by the $5.6 million shortfall in the Board of Education budget — but it won’t release it until after the election. We have an election in five days. Voters are being asked to decide on school board leadership and budget oversight without knowing what happened to $5.6 million of their money. That’s wrong. Voters deserve this information before they cast their ballots. Background During the shortfall, the Enfield Board of Education had a Democratic majority. After Republicans won control of the Town Council and Board of Education, council Republicans sharply criticized the prior board’s budget management. Board members — both Democratic and Republican — appeared before the council to explain what happened. They cited several factors: -- The state cut special-education reimbursements from above 90% to the low 60s. -- Special-education enrollment rose sharply after the budget was set. -- Other costs, including insurance, increased. A...
