Sometimes I think my education was totally lacking. Despite a bachelor’s degree with a major in math and minors in English and social studies, and a master’s degree in education, it is becoming increasingly clear that I don’t understand our language.

In Nashua, I keep reading about proposed cuts in the budget. Virtually every department is screaming about all the cuts to their budgets and what a devastating effect it will have. I understand that everyone has a one word request – more. When they get less more than they wanted, the complaining begins.

Last year’s budget in the city was $130 million. Mayor Donalee Lozeau has proposed a budget of $133 million. While I admit to not being a Rhodes Scholar, that does not sound like a cut. It sounds like an increase.

The mayor’s initial submission was 2.7 percent higher. The proposal was cut to a reported 1.98 percent increase which has now been reduced to a 1.68 percent increase. Even my meager education notes that the operative word is “increase.”

I noted that, according to Telegraph reports (May 29), principals and administrators were given a 2.6 percent increase. For those who can’t tell, that is way more than the 1.5 percent spending cap in effect.

I don’t blame the principals and administrators. They are merely trying to get as much as they can. The problem is an irresponsible school committee, which displays the attitude of, “What the heck, it’s not my money.”

The state government is no different. The current budget is $10.7 billion (with a B). The governor proposed a budget of $11.5 billion. The House version was $11.2 billion. The Senate passed their version at an $11.3 billion level. Both the Senate and the House voted for less than the governor’s proposal. But all are above the current budget.

I can hardly wait for the grousing to begin about the “cuts.” The problem seems to come down not to “more,” but to “how much more.”

We should send a letter to the dictionary editors. They obviously never learned the definitions of “cut,” or “decrease.” Most of us would be very happy to receive a “decrease” like that in our household incomes.

Joseph Ross is an editor and publisher who lives in Nashua. He can be reached at rosstrumpublishing @gmail.com.