Editor, Gazette-Journal:

I would like to address a persistent misconception believed by some, including some elected school board members, regarding alleged funding cuts to our schools. Last Monday evening, the Gloucester Board of Supervisors overwhelmingly approved a budget providing historically significant pay increases to our teachers and county employees and provided critical infrastructure needs without raising taxes.

To clear up this misconception, we did not cut the school budget, but, in fact, increased it by more than 6 percent over last year. We were able to grow county revenues by attracting new business and implementing sound fiscal management policies—alleviating the burden on the taxpayer. This is what the overwhelming majority of citizens I talk to (especially retirees on fixed incomes) expect from this board of supervisors and we delivered.

As elected officials, we have a fiduciary duty to manage our budget based on needs and affordability. Our goal this year ...