The Gloucester School Board adopted it fiscal year 2022 budget with a 5-1 vote last Thursday at Gloucester High School. Board member Darren Post cast the lone nay vote. Board member Brenda Mack was absent from the meeting.

The board had requested a $2.2 million increase in local dollars in its operating budget but received only a $1,262,110 boost, a difference of $986,469. It had also requested $34 million additional dollars for capital improvements in order to fund a full renovation of Gloucester High School, but that was denied by county supervisors.

The operating budget as adopted totals $65,354,381 and the money for capital improvements total $52,521,425, which includes $41,663,275 for infrastructure improvements at GHS. Along with $2.8 million for food services and $3.8 million in debt service, the board’s FY2022 budget totals $129,222,999.

Before adopting the budget, board member Randy Burak read from prepared remarks addressing the supervisors’ decision to use a portio...