In a web newsletter this morning, the Rhode Island Statewide Coalition (RISC), the statewide affiliate of the Portsmouth Concerned Citizens (PCC), ran a celebratory piece on yesterday's defeat of the school budget referendum, spotlighting the PCC's work in defeating the measure, and attacking all the local Democratic candidates, as well as Portsmouth superintendent Susan Lusi.

The membership of the PCC voted unanimously on September 7 to oppose the Referendum proposal, and the taxpayers group subsequently launched a vigorous campaign to defeat the budget increase. The PCC cited the existing department surplus of approximately $1 million and the current recession as reasons to reject the proposal.

The Referendum was scheduled after a group of citizens, supporting a higher budget for the Department, successfully raised a petition of approximately 1,500 signatures to place the proposal on the ballot. If successful, it would have increased the school budget by $765,301. School Superintendent Dr. Susan Lusi led an extensive public campaign in support of the proposed budget increase, with all Democratic candidates for Council and the School Committee publically supporting the measure. Council member and candidate Dennis Canario originally proposed the Referendum to the Committee.— RISC newsletter, 10/6/10

The PCC like to talk about transparancy [sic], but they made their plan to defeat the referendum at a secret meeting to which only members are admitted and executed their "vigorous campaign" in the last weekend, offering no time for response or dialog.

Despite multiple debunkings of the "$1 million" surplus (see here, for example), they continue to use this talking point. And notice that they are now going directly after the Superintendent, Dr. Lusi, characterizing her attempts to set the record straight as an "extensive public campaign." Can there be any doubt now about the nature of the "management changes" the Republican candidates have called for?

Full disclosure: I am a Democratic candidate for Portsmouth school committee, and I supported the referendum.