The New Bedford School Committee approved Supt. Dr. Pia Durkin's proposed $120.4 million budget Monday night 6-1. However, the mayor will not support it. 

Mayor Jon Mitchell voted no and said he will be proposing a School Department budget of $118.8 million to the City Council Wednesday night.

Mitchell says due to costs beyond the city's control, this year's budget will force the city to "continue to do more with less."

Despite job increases in the city, property taxes still remain low and the city must wait for them to catch up.

He noted there will be plenty of questions by the Council about where the money will be going. Dr. Durkin says she's ready to answer those questions.

"It's a very transparent budget. It says exactly what we need to do and what we're trying to do with those resources."

Mitchell's $118.8 million proposal is still a $2.4 million increase from last year's School Department budget.

Dr. Durkin says without the additional funding, some new initiatives cannot be fully implemented.

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