Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Trying to see facts and truth through the dust and fog of claims and counterclaims regarding the current Gloucester budget process for both the county and the schools is difficult, but this is what I have learned after much careful research.

This year, the schools asked the county for $1,360,000 more than last year for the operating budget and the county responded with an increase of $340,000 over last year, yet the school system tells the public that their budget was “cut” by $1 million. This must be the result of New Math. Certainly, the schools did not get all that was requested, but they did get an increase over last year. In fact, because of increased funding from the state, the school operating budget increased by $1,660,000 over that of last year, notwithstanding the “cuts” made by the county.

The county has also provided a 4 percent pay raise for both the county and school employees at a cost of $2.2 million. This is being fun...