Hold The School Budget Flat
Hold The School Budget Flat
To the Editor:
The time has come to hold the Board of Ed budget to zero increase. It has increased every year while for the past two years enrollment has fallen and with projections for us to expect further declines. There are several reasons we must hold the budget to no increase:
1. Connecticut in 2007 updated a law, as described in Section 10-262i of Connecticut General Statutes, requiring each town to maintain several key factors to continue receiving Education Cost Sharing formula and one was the minimum budget requirement (MBR). The effect of the current MBR is to prohibit towns from reducing education budgets. By law, the penalty for failing to meet the MBR is a reduction in the townâs ECS grant for the subsequent fiscal year equal to twice the amount of the shortfall (CGS § 10-262i(f)). The law remains in effect and SB-298 calls for a study of the bill with report out no later than 1/1/13. And what do you think this state legislature will do?
2. The town expects declining enrollment with the likelihood we will need to close a school. If we donât stop increasing the budget we will be tied to higher spending just when we want to cut the corresponding budget. Current law does allow for small reductions. Under the new MBR law, most towns whose school districts have fewer students enrolled than in the previous school year may reduce their MBRs for FY 12 or FY 13 by $3,000 times the enrollment reduction. But, the total reduction in any year cannot exceed 0.5 percent of the prior yearâs budget appropriation or if we close a school itâs up to the educational commissioner. Hartford tells us what we pay. Not us.
3. The town just received a significant expense reduction with the new bus contract so we should expect to see that money used to offset any other cost increases.
4. Lastly, if we allow the town to implement full-day kindergarten, we will have it forever. Thus far I have seen no strong evidence this is a necessity for every child and any number may not be ready for all day schooling at this age. In some studies, early education has shown any benefits are lost by the third or fourth grades. Head Start is a prime example. Studies show that Head Start children are no more advanced than non-Head Start children after a short time.
Neighboring Region 15âs superintendent has proposed a flat budget for the past two years. Why canât ours? They, too, have experienced declining enrollments. Unheard of you say? No. Grotonâs has been flat for three years. So did North Branford this year. The time has come for government to start providing only what is a necessity. We must call on our government to pare down things that are nice to do, to things that are essential to do. Preschool programs are nice to do; not a necessity. Vote No on the budget and for zero increase.
Warren Hoppmeyer
23 Cobblers Mill Road, Sandy Hook                            April 17, 2012