Supporters Urge Council To Restore Education Budget

By Jan Howard

The message delivered by the majority of residents during the Legislative Council’s public hearing Wednesday night regarding the Board of Finance’s recommended budget of $84,359,922 was clear: Restore the cuts and we’ll make sure the budget passes.

The budget as recommended by the Board of Finance would raise the tax rate by 1.5 mills, from 23.4 to 24.9 or 6.5 percent more than the current year’s budget.

The Legislative Council is to hear a presentation by the Board of Education at its April 7 meeting. Final action on the budget will take place on April 14, according to Chairman Will Rodgers.

“The ultimate test is the referendum,” he told the audience at the end of the hearing. “We need votes out there.”

The number of people attending the public hearing in the Reed Intermediate School was far less than the 400-plus rumored planning to attend, but all but a handful of the approximately 175 people in attendance appeared to support the original 2004-05 budget of $85,180,247 as proposed by the Board of Selectmen and Board of Education, which would raise the tax rate by 1.9 mills, from 23.4 mills to 25.3, or 6.8 percent more than the current year’s budget.

The Board of Finance recently sliced more than $820,000 from the annual spending package, including $250,000 from the Board of Education’s proposal and $570,325 from the Board of Selectmen’s requests.

Most affected on the town side were the town’s Tercentennial Commission, which lost all its funding request of $75,000; C.H. Booth Library, which took a hit of $50,000 in addition to the earlier reduction of approximately $80,000 by the Board of Selectmen; roads, $70,000; and the Police Department, which lost a $78,800 request for three patrol cars.

Town Historian Dan Cruson, chairman of the Tercentennial Commission, asked that the $75,000 sliced by the Board of Finance be restored. He explained the commission plans a series of celebratory events through August 5 and 6 of 2005 and several other activities.

Mr Cruson noted that while his commission has begun fundraising efforts, it needs “seed money” to begin planning for the activities.

“The celebration will bring the community together,” he said. “The 300th is a remarkable time to come together as a community.”

He said state Rep Julia Wasserman is in the process of seeking some funding from the state. “Town government should own some of this,” he said. “I’d like to see a show of support on behalf of the town.”

 Two speakers spoke in support of restoration of $50,000 to the library’s budget.

Hamilton Brosious, a member of the library’s Board of Trustees, spoke of the quality and variety of activities provided by the library.

“The people of Newtown use, admire, and respect the library and have generously supported it over the years,” he said. Under the proposed budget, the library would receive $17,000 fewer operating funds than it received for the current year, he said, noting there are contractual and other operating costs over which the library has no control.

The cost of services essential to operation of the library are being increased, he said, such as the cost of the bibliomation system.

If the reduction in funding remains, he said, the library’s only option would be to eliminate programs and hours of operation.

Kathy Geckle, also a library trustee, noted her concern that monies raised by volunteers for the library has influenced reductions to the library budget. She said donations by the Friends of the Library and others have been used for materials and a variety of activities, such as exterior lighting, furniture, and computers for the Young Adult section, and books.

“The library has not raised its book budget for five years,” she said, as a result of volunteer contributions.

Resident Ruby Johnson spoke on behalf of restored funding for the tercentennial, noting, “It’s important to instill pride in our town.” She also backed restoring funding for the library, noting, “A free public library is part of our democracy.” She said it was important to do everything possible to ensure a “free flow of knowledge.”

She also commented on the school budget’s percentage of the total budget through the years as “not fluctuating too much.” She received a standing ovation when she concluded, by quoting Professor Neil Postman of New York University, by saying, “Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.”

Newtown Police Chief Michael Kehoe urged the restoration of $78,800 for the replacement of three high-mileage police cruisers, noting their importance in the performance of officers’ duties.

Police Commission member Richard Simon also voiced safety concerns about the patrol cars. “Police cars are more than transportation, they are instrumental to performing daily duties.”

Resident Richard Sturdevant also urged restoration of the funds for the patrol cars, noting if purchase is deferred, maintenance costs would go up and cars would be out of service for periods of time.

He also spoke on behalf of restoration of funding for road repairs, noting it was “short-sighted” not to be maintaining town roads. He also suggested that the town and school system might realize some economies if they merged certain activities.

A number of residents spoke on behalf of restoration of the $250,000 to the school system budget, offering concerns about large class sizes, availability of courses at the high school, and other issues. Several described Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff’s budget as “lean” prior to cuts by the Board of Education and Board of Finance. Some emphasized the need to strive for excellence, some noting concerns the school system was in danger of mediocrity. Some referred to the town’s 139 ranking in the state in per pupil spending.

Some other issues raised included the change in bus schedule, with children arriving home later than with the previous schedule, and detrimental effects on programs, such as the Discovery program. Some also noted the federal mandate of “No Child Left Behind” places a financial burden on the town.

Some speakers also noted the need for more economic development in town to reduce the burden on residential taxpayers.

Donald Ramsey, a teacher in the Newtown school system, noted, “There is absolutely no waste in Newtown public schools.” He noted the assistant superintendent of schools “wears nine different hats.”

“If you cut the budget more, it will be fiscally irresponsible to do,” he said, noting that people move to Newtown because of the school system.

“Try to look at it from the inside out,” Mr Ramsey said. “In comparison to other school districts, this district is a gift.”

Keith Jacobs questioned how long the town could expect teachers to stay if their jobs were getting harder and benefits being reduced. He noted that property values would not continue to rise if the educational system declined. “Let the schools move forward, not backward,” he urged.

Michele Hankin noted the school system is vital to the entire town. “We all reap the benefits of a strong school system,” she said. The school budget is responsible and frugal, she said, adding, “We need the $250,000 back to be status quo.”

She noted several “risks” in the budget, such as the price of oil yet to be determined, the need for an additional teacher at Head O’ Meadow, and that the number of projected new students in the system could be surpassed. “There is no contingency for surprises,” she concluded.

Suzanne Zimmermann said the Board of Finance “went too far” in cutting the budget. “We’re here to support the budget as it was presented to the Board of Finance,” she said. “We need the $250,000 back.”

And, she promised, “We will get this vote out.”