Budgetary Guillotine

Cambridge Superintendent of Schools William Lannon turned to answer the question with a weary shrug. "Everything I've worked for in the last five years I've cut out in the last five days."

Lannon's proposed budget would increase spending 13 per cent over last year; with inflation running at 18 per cent and state and federally-mandated programs increasing, the new budget would force the schools to fire 80 teachers and virtually close down departments like elementary guidance and remedial reading.

"We had to make cuts--our priority was to maintain in-classroom instruction as best we could," Lannon said.

But the firestorm of criticism that greeted the proposed cuts may not be Lannon's only problem. The city's mayor, Francis H. Duehay '55, last week called for "serious consideration" of further budget cuts to keep tax increases to a minimum.

As it stands, Duehay warned, the tax rate will increase $30 to $50, a hike that translates into $500 to $900 more for the average taxpayer in the city. And for their extra money, taxpayers will be buying sharply reduced services, not only in the schools but across the city budget.

There is a chance, however, that taxes may be held down. Gov. Edward J. King's 4-per-cent spending cap, adopted during Proposition 13 fever, can be overridden only if six members of the City Council vote to do so.

But if taxes only increase 4 per cent, obviously services will have to be reduced still further.

To meet King's cap, Lannon said the system would have to close four schools. Close elementary libraries. Axe elementary science programs. Increase class size 15 per cent. Lay off 210 staff. Move the central office to a new, smaller home. Stop sabbatical leaves for teachers. End the cultural resources program. Halt elementary athletics. Close down the bilingual summer school, the evening program, and adult diploma classes. Stop teaching foreign languages at the elementary schools. And stop all raises of any sort for teachers.

In short, to meet the King cap, "we'd have to destroy the schools," one school committee member said.

So, more than likely, the City Council will vote to override the cap. "There is no way we can keep any city budget under 4 per cent. Inflation is running at 18 per cent and people have to get raises," Duehay said.

But the city's bind comes from more than King's tax-cutting initiatives. Apparently in an effort to stem the rising tide of inflation, and also to allow for vast increases in defense spending, the House Appropriations Committee last week gave preliminary approval to an end to revenue sharing.

State governments, then--already hard hit by their own attempts at fiscal restraint--will get less federal money this year. Consequently they will pass less on to local communities.

But, ironically, federal courts and state laws are simultaneously forcing local communities to increase spending, especially in school budgets. Cities are required to provide necessary education for handicapped youngsters--just last week a court ordered Cambridge to place two children in special private programs that will cost city taxpayers $30,000 apiece.

So, with federal money drying up and inflation and mandated services driving costs up, "This city is in for a tax increase the likes of which it has never seen," Duehay said.