ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Calling a preschool program “glorified day care,” Mat-Su mayor has vetoed a budget amendment that would have given the borough school district $350,000.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss announced his veto in a letter Friday. He said the school district didn’t ask for the money, and also noted that preschool is best left to the private sector.
The Anchorage Daily News reports (https://is.gd/6QvJtG ) the money was not specifically earmarked for preschool, but Mat-Su Assembly member Matthew Beck sponsored the amendment to pay for a districtwide preschool program.
The Assembly approved it last week as part of the borough’s more than $403 million budget for the next fiscal year.
The Assembly will take up the veto at its meeting Tuesday. Five Assembly votes are needed to override a mayoral veto.
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