BRUNSWICK

In a turnaround by the Brunswick Town Council with a 5-4 vote, the school board kept its original $37.69 million proposed budget Thursday night. Earlier this month, the council had decided to cut another $85,000 from the budget — a move rebuffed by the school board on Wednesday.

Initially, the council had requested the board find $410,000 in cuts to its budget, which was accomplished. It was after a council discussion regarding a scheduled repaving project at the high school that the council voted to cut $85,000 more from the school budget — precisely the amount of the paving project.

At the opening of Thursday’s council discussions on the school budget, Councilor John Perreault immediately made a motion to put the $85,000 back in the budget.

Councilor Jane Millett, who initially sug- gested removing that amount, began by saying the council was “on firm legal ground” as confirmed by the town’s legal council.

However, it wasn’t worth going to war with the school board over $85,000, Millett said.

She clarified that the proposed cut was not a line item veto of the paving project.

Millett said those “who have misstated and mischaracterized my position have done so for their own purposes.”

Councilor Dan Harris indicated that the amount of the proposed cut was targeted by councilors unhappy with the school’s $85,000 paving project.

“Let’s not fool ourselves (that) it was mere coincidence,” Harris said.

Council Chairwoman Sarah Brayman supported the return of the funds to the school budget proposal while keeping the overall tax rate increase at 3.5 percent.

She said the budget process had gone on long enough.

“To do that at the 11thand three-quarters hour … to save people on average $5 to $10 on their tax bill is a foolhardy errand,” Brayman said.

Brayman said she did not have a full understanding of the paving project as a multi-year plan and praised the model the school department has come up with, suggesting the town take notes faced with maintaining the pavers on Maine Street’s sidewalks.

During public comments, resident Alan Yuodsnukis told the council he was disappointed with the lack of respect for the process and guidelines.

“We can call it what we want. We can say that the lawyer said it’s OK,” Yuodsnukis said, adding that he believed the cut did constitute a de facto line item veto.

Yuodsnukis said that, as a voter, he feels disenfranchised because he voted for the school board members to make line item management and town councilors to decide on overall town budgets.

“I think someone needs to be held accountable for what I see as a lapse in judgment,” Yuodsnukis said.

The budget vote was opposed by councilors Steve Walker, Suzan Wilson, Kathy Wilson and Alison Harris. It was approved by councilors Dave Watson, Brayman, Perreault, Dan Harris and Millett.

The school budget will go before the public on June 14.

dmcintire@timesrecord.com

How they voted

• THE BUDGET VOTE was opposed by councilors Steve Walker, Suzan Wilson, Kathy Wilson and Alison Harris. It was approved by councilors Dave Watson, Sarah Brayman, John Perreault, Dan Harris and Jane Millett.