While many of the Mathews teachers and other school supporters were not at Tuesday night’s hearing on the school board’s draft budget—opting instead to attend the Mathews Board of Supervisors’ public input meeting on the county budget—they were there in spirit, with 60 red balloons (each representing a Mathews Education Association member) tied to the chairs of the Mathews High School media center.

The balloon cartoon heads were intended to bob and nod in agreement; but they likely wouldn’t have been in accord with one of the evening’s speakers, who urged the school board to reconsider its proposed 13 percent raise, instead asking the board to limit any such increase to 2 or 3 percent.

Bobby Dobson of Cobbs Creek asked the school board to think about the effect that a significant real estate tax increase would have on the county’s retirees living on fixed incomes.

While Dobson’s comments found a sympathetic ear with at least one ...