Portland City Council set to vote on school budget

City residents got their first chance Monday to weigh in on next year’s $161.4 million Portland school budget, with four of five who spoke urging the City Council to approve it. Monday night marked the first reading of the proposal and the first opportunity for public comment. Councilors did not discuss the budget Monday, but will do so prior to the council vote in two weeks. Lara Rosen, who has a third-grader at Rowe Elementary School, praised the school board for a transparent and collaborative process and urged the council...