The School Committee got a big-picture snapshot of next year's budget on Thursday, Jan. 26. The view of the preliminary numbers is not yet a keeper for the school-family album. Expected revenue of $1.8 million runs short of the proposed spending increases of $4 million by $2.2 million.

"I’m worried someone will think this is a [firm] proposal," said Kirsi Allison-Ampe, chair of the budget subcommittee.

Superintendent Kathleen Bodie, who presented the numbers, made clear the number are far from final. She said they show "we have a stable budget" situation. She cited the reasons for that as last June's $6.5 million override, which voters passed, and the agreement reached on employee health care. 

Jan. 26: Town would get $1.1m in aid under initial Patrick plan

The committee expects to see firmer numbers at its Feb. 9 meeting. A public budget hearing is set for March 1. The Finance Committee is to get the fiscal 2013 budget by the end of March.

In a budget year that includes negotiating a new teachers' contract, here are the preliminary figures and what each represents:

Members Jeff Thielman and Leba Heigham asked Bodie at the next budget update to provide her thinking behind the numbers.

Athletics foundation moves forward

In other business, the committee voted, 7-0, to approve a memorandum of agreement between the committee and the Arlington Athletics Foundation Inc., the new nonprofit that aims to raise funds for high school athletics.

The memo grants the foundation the right to have contracts with third parties for temporary sponsorship signs at Peirce Field. Money collected, after expenses, is to be turned over to the School Committee on or before June 1 annually.

"I hope they go like gangbusters," Chair Cindy Starks said.

The committee also:

-- Approved, 7-0, a warrant article for this spring's Town Meeting on municipal liens;

-- Voted, 7-0, to accept changes to the high school's program of studies, as outlined by interim Principal Mary Villano;

-- Approved, 7-0, the appointment of member Bill Hayner to the Advisory Committee on Kindergarten Fees;

-- Heard that the next meeting of the Redistricting Committee is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, in the School Committee room, sixth floor of the high school;

-- Heard a proposal that the athletics advisory board, involved in controversies over fees in 2010-11, report to the high school principal and not to the School Committee;

-- Heard Stephen Harrington of Arlington say during public participation that the cost of full-day kindergarten is "ludicrous," should be lower, amounts to an illegal tax and efforts to collect it are "heavy-handed."

This story was published Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012.