Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to the $1.8 million education cut imposed by our Board of Education and our First Selectman.
On January 20, 2026, the education budget proposed by Superintendent Kobza was reduced by $250,000 by the Republican majority on the Board of Education in a 5-3 vote. Then, in February, First Selectman Rooney reduced it by another $1,603,230, for a total reduction of $1,853,239.
Wait. Hold on. There’s more.
This past Thursday at the Board of Finance meeting, First Selectman Rooney recommended the board “adjust” his own reduction of $1,603,230 down to $403,230. Mind you, it’s just that, a recommendation.
I have questions. I would love to hear clear explanations from our elected officials, yet so far, no transparent rationale, no forward-looking plan, and no open dialogue. We’re told Superintendent Kobza decides how funds are spent, but that deflection avoids the central issue: why the political majority on the Board of Education voted to reduce the budget in the first place, and where they believe those cuts should come from.
Unfortunately, the majority party offered no discussion, exchange of ideas or collaboration. There was only a vote to reduce Superintendent Kobza’s proposed budget.
Why did First Selectman Rooney make his initial cut and then reduce it? This change of heart is not because of the $250,000 insurance premium savings. Was his reduction in his words “to control taxation and represent those who implore his office for lower taxes and do not wish to speak publicly”?
The First Selectman is supposed to represent all the citizens of Monroe, not just a singular group. I believe all the funds should be restored to Superintendent Kobza’s budget, and the full amount of the proposed budget should be voted on by the community at the referendum.
Whatever your stance on the budget, we should all expect more from our leaders: genuine representation, bipartisanship and transparency.
Please keep showing up and speaking out. The next meeting is Tuesday, March 31, at Town Hall. The Board of Finance determines the final dollar amount presented to voters on May 5.
Marie Blake
A retired Monroe teacher, who ran for the Board of Education last election
What’s a million $ here and there between friends!
The fact that this amount of funding can be so easily added or subtracted from public funding of our core infrastructure without accompanying, validated and documented discussion is almost incomprehensible. The town of Monroe is not some medieval fiefdom in which the lord of the manor dispenses funds at will.
It would seem that a much greater degree of transparency is required for us residents to understand the apparently arbitrary machinations of our elected representatives.
We, the citizens of Monroe, deserve and demand greater insight into the decision processes used to allocate our taxes to facilities that have significant impact on the way our town is externally judged. A million $ here or there should be subject to much greater external audit and discussion while at continuing to advocate for the Independence of our elected officials.
Let’s work together for the greater good of Monroe and its inhabitants ….