MOORPARK : Session on Schools Budget to Be Public

The Moorpark school board will hold a special public meeting in May to review the district’s preliminary budget.

“I believe the more open government there is, the better government is,” said board member Tom Baldwin, who proposed the public meeting at a regular school board meeting Tuesday night.

The district projects that it will have to cut $800,000 from its budget because of a shortfall in state funds.

The general fund budget for the 1991-92 school year will be about $21 million.

Supt. Thomas Duffy cautioned the board about holding a public meeting on the cuts.

He said the board needs to be particularly cautious about dealing with the teachers unions at a public meeting where all board members are present.

“In a public meeting, there is always the possibility of errant comment,” Duffy said.

“We must not appear to be negotiating or bargaining.”

But board President Cynthia Hubbard said the special meeting is a good idea.

“We should have an open meeting each year before the budget is set in concrete,” she said.

The meeting will be held during the third week in May.