Date: Fri 13-Feb-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

council-schools-budget

Full Text:

School Bd Stung By Council Budget Cuts

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Legislative Council voted Tuesday to make what amounts to an $800,000 cut

to the Board of Education's proposed budget for 1998-99.

The board's 9-3 vote dropped the school board's overall budget proposal to

$31,959,812, a reduction of the original request from a 10.1 percent increase

over last year's budget to an increase of 7.4 percent.

According to the council, the impact to the school system won't be $800,000.

The motion made by council member John Kortze actually called for a $500,000

cut and a lease of $411,000 worth of technology equipment (for $100,000),

netting another $300,000 in savings.

Of course, the leasing method is simply a suggestion by the council, which has

no line-item authority on school spending.

The $800,000 cut to the school board's request was significant. However,

council members reminded school supporters that the Board of Education's

budget still shows an increase of over $2 million over the current budget.

True, say Board of Education members, but the school's needs go far beyond a

$2 million increase, especially with increased teacher salaries, enrollment

growing at a record pace, and a drop in state aid.

The council's finance committee is intent on shrinking the proposed increase

in the tax rate to around one mill. The cut to the school budget gets the

increase down to about 1.1 mills. The council still has the town side of the

budget to deal with, but no more significant cuts are expected.

"We're at a 1.1 mill increase at this point," said Pierre Rochman, council

chairman. "I think that's pretty palatable, especially since we started off

with a 3 mill increase before the sub-committees met. We've come a long ways."

Disappointed Board of Education members said the council's decision may force

them to cut some new teacher positions, among other things. (See related

story.)

The Board of Education had requested a budget of $32.7 million, which

represented a 10.1 percent increase over the current budget. Last week, the

council's education committee recommended that $200,000 be cut from the school

board's original request. In an effort to get the school's proposal down even

further, it also suggested that an additional $776,000 (including $411,000 for

technology) be funded through the town's capital and non-recurring

expenditures account.

Joe Borst, chairman of the education committee, made a motion in support of

that plan Wednesday night. It was defeated, 10-2.

Mr Kortze's motion followed.

Mr Kortze said his proposal, which was unanimously endorsed by the council's

finance committee, was based on a the concern that Mr Borst's original plan

put too much stress on the town's capital and non-recurring expenditures

account. The town strives to keep a certain percentage of it overall budget in

this reserve to ensure a satisfactory bond rating.

School Supporters

The council made up its mind on the cuts despite the urgings of school

supporters, including school board chairman Amy Dent, who outlined the school

systems needs in a presentation before the council vote.

"For years, we have held the line with status quo budgets," she said. "I

lament the fact that you have never let the citizens vote on an intact version

of the budget that we present to you."

School board members pointed out that, since 1990, state aid has dropped from

24 percent down to 13 percent, while Newtown's student population has risen by

800 students.

Council member Brian White joined Lisa Schwartz and Mr Borst in voting against

the $800,000 cut. "I'm not in a position to determine what the town really

wants and I don't know how the budget is being driven down to one magic

number," he said.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, the former school board chairman, also made an

effort to stop the $800,000 cut. "The magnitude of this is larger than what I

normally would like to see happen," he said.

Council member Melissa Pilchard said the council's vote provided a balance

between the needs of the schools and the needs of the taxpayers. She added

that it is the state that has fallen down on its funding responsibilities, not

the taxpayers.

Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed said he and the school board will

simply have to go back to the drawing board to make the necessary adjustments.

He declined to say where those cuts would be made.

School board members said they are discouraged by the council's attitude that

because the proposed school budget is so large, surely there must be something

to cut.

"Every year has been a bad year for an increase in the Board of Education's

budget," Mrs Dent said as she left the meeting.