Despite a brief and unsuccessful attempt to eliminate the school district’s requested 0.34 percent budget increase, the Legislative Council unanimously voted to send a budget plan to referendum representing the first tax rate decrease in memory.

On April 1, the council endorsed a 2015-16 budget proposal of $111,730,513, representing a 0.6 percent spending increase over the current year.

Overall taxation and the mill rate would be reduced even though the budget is calling for slightly more spending, however, because of new grand list revenue, additional revenue from service charges, and intergovernmental revenue totaling $664,309.

Along with a debt service cost reduction, significant savings were developed as a result of a positive claims trend in the town’s self-insured employee health plan.

The school district request before the council is $71,587,946, representing a 0.34 percent increase, and the town budget request, including all municipal and school district capital debt service, is $40,142,567 or a 1.06 percent increase.

Capital debt service represents $10,110,702 of the municipal request.

If approved as endorsed by the council in an April 28 referendum, the new spending plan would represent a net reduction in taxation of 0.71 percent, with a new tax rate of 33.07 mills, about a one-third of a mill reduction from the current rate of 33.31.

A mill represents one dollar for every $1,000 in taxable property.

This year, most of the discussion and deliberation on various segments of the budget proposal went on at the council’s committees, with recommendations being brought forth by those committee chairs to the full panel on April 1.

This action left few questions to be asked during the full session. Municipal Operations Committee Chairman Robert Merola reported that his panel unanimously voted to send the department requests under their review to the full council as proposed by the Board of Finance.

Councilman George Ferguson, who chairs the Administrative and Finance Committee, also reported a unanimous endorsement sending their areas of the budget proposal to the full council unchanged. The Education Committee, chaired by Neil Chaudhary, endorsed the district budget with one dissenting vote.

That No vote on the school budget proposal was tendered by Mr Merola, who during the full council meeting, moved to reduce the district request to $71,345,304 — generating a zero percent increase.

“I would like to see a zero increase for [the next] several years,” Mr Merola said, defending his motion. “It’s increased for several years. I’d kind of like to halt the continuous increases in the Board of Education budget.”

Councilman Ryan Knapp agreed, saying a zero increase would take into account the significant drop in student enrollment that is expected to continue for at least the next year or more.

He said the action was logical and justified considering, “we have declining enrollment, struggling taxpayers, and less and less state aid.”

Council member Eva Bermudez countered that a zero percent increase “would be nice to consider.” However, she said “The proposed budget is pretty solid and was well presented. Maybe next budget season we can look at what can be done.”

Councilman Phil Carroll said he would support Mr Merola's reduction motion.

“A lot of savings was found by the Board of Finance that should have been found at the Board of Education level,” he said. “And (during its deliberations) the Board of Finance did not reduce the proposal.”

Effect On Schools

Councilman Dan Amaral asked Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, whether the proposed reduction would have a “severe impact” on district operations. Dr Erardi responded saying, “Yes.”

“Class size has not gone down as a result of staff reductions,” he said, “and the school board can justify every nickel of every dollar.” The superintendent said any further reductions would have direct impact on instruction throughout the K–12 grades.

“Zero point three four is an important number for the Board of Education to go forward with,” Dr Erardi added, referring to the requested increase on the table.

The vote on Mr Merola’s proposal failed on a 8–4 vote with Mssrs Merola, Carroll, Amaral, and Knapp all dissenting.

Before putting the main motion to a vote, Council Chair Mary Ann Jacob asked each representative to offer an opinion on the district’s spending plan.

While several said they would have liked to see a zero increase, most council representatives thanked or praised Dr Erardi and his staff for their work, including producing a budget book that helped officials develop questions that were answered during committee level sessions.

During her remarks, however, Ms Jacob expressed disappointment in the school board for its “lack of discussion...about the budget.”

Ms Jacob pointed out that a pilot foreign language program initiated in the current proposal could expand into a significant “legacy cost” to taxpayers. And she took school officials to task for budgeting a new administrative position at the high school that she said had been "requested for years," albeit with a new title.

“I would like to see that money benefit kids or the taxpayers,” Ms Jacob said, warning, “next year taxpayers need to see significant savings.” The council chair also promised to push for discussions about initiating more “shared services” between the town and district.

Calling for a vote on the district request, the response was a unanimous Yes.

Town Budget

Turning to the municipal budget — which includes all school and town capital project debt service — most of the council members expressed appreciation to the Board of Finance, First Selectman Pat Llodra, and Finance Director Robert Tait for their budget presentation as well.

Councilman Knapp said every requested increase on the town side was “justified.”

“This budget isn’t just a plan, it’s a communication device to taxpayers,” Mr Knapp said.

During her remarks, Ms Jacob said next year she would ensure all committee meetings were recorded, so taxpayers could have access to video, audio, and minutes if they desired to learn more discussion details as council recommendations were being formed.

The municipal budget proposal passed unanimously when put to a vote a few moments later.

The spending plan now goes to taxpayers in a split vote. Budget polling will be open April 28 at Newtown Middle School from 6 am to 8 pm.

Qualified taxpayers may also vote by absentee ballot in the town clerk’s office during regular weekday business hours, or during a Saturday absentee balloting session at the Newtown Municipal Center April 25 from 9 am to noon.

Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia Halstead told The Bee that referendum absentee ballots are on order and will be available shortly.