Apr 10, 2008
Board of Finance
High emotions surround budget
School budget cut by $150,000
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by Laura Modlin
Correspondent
After a meeting with the Board of Education that was marked by high emotions, heated debate and several failed motions, the Board of Finance accepted its proposed 2008-09 town budget last week.
The proposed budget totals $39,603,353 which is a 4.76% increase over the current year’s budget of $37,802,702. The Board of Education was the last on the finance board’s list of departments to meet with regarding budget cuts. School officials met with the finance board last Wednesday evening to discuss trimming the budget for Samuel Staples Elementary and Helen Keller Middle School, which represents approximately a third of the town’s total budget.
The Board of Education initially presented a budget of $14,629,258, which would create an increase of $777,376, or 5.61%, over the current year’s budget. Following lengthy discussion and nine failed motions, the Board of Finance finally agreed on a number reducing the Board of Education’s budget by $150,000, to $14,479,258, an increase of 4.53% over the current year’s budget.
The budget for the Board of Education is one line on the town budget. The Board of Finance cannot modify specific expenses, but it can modify the total and make suggestions for ways to cut expenses.
School Superintendent Allen Fossbender said the schools would eliminate the request for a half-time social worker at Samuel Staples, and trim the increases in spending on outside professional services for special education and technology replacement. A request for funding a software program that analyzes student performance and provides strategies to meet individual needs was also eliminated.
Essential increases
Andy Kachele, Board of Finance chairman, noted some large increases in the school budget that included salaries and “other professional services.”
Among the “other professional services,” $10,000 is being allocated to move the administrative Central Office for the Board of Education from its current location in Monroe to its new offices at the old Samuel Staples Elementary School on Morehouse Road.
A strategy to reduce spending on transportation by unifying the buses will not be implemented, because it was deemed ineffective.
Lee Hanson, finance board member, presented work he did looking at the Board of Education’s proposed budget. According to his calculations, he said the budget could be decreased by as much as $200,000.
“I did not take out major things like salary,” he said. “And I will not argue that other than to say not to add people.”
Mr. Hanson said he understands that the Board of Education has “obligatory increases” in addition to other increases.
“They need to understand we can’t afford it,” he said.
Mr. Hanson felt that whether the Board of Education takes his suggestions or looks for their own ways of cutting back that it is imperative that they cut operating expenses.
Special education expenses
A hot button issue for the evening was the $29,905 increase for special education’s “outside professional services.”
The Board of Education made a list of the components of its budget divided into fixed expenses and “improvements and innovations.” The items at the bottom of the non-compulsory “improvements and innovations” list, ranked by decreasing import, were increasing special education’s “outside professional services” and adding a part-time social worker.
“In terms of ‘outside consulting’ no evidence was given that they had to spend more money next year than this year,” said Mr. Hanson.
Easton resident Amy Fulton, a mother of an autistic child, who was at the meeting along with members of four other Easton families with autistic children, made an impassioned plea. She said she resented being at the meeting on Autism Awareness Day having to defend the rights of families in Easton with autistic children.
Ms. Fulton and the other families were there to help protect services for their children.
Mr. Kachele noted that this was a work session and not a public hearing and it was up to the Board of Education to explain the issues.
Dr. Fossbender said that the state legislation is “clear and specific” about the services the schools need to provide for special needs students. He went on to explain that the state mandates the requirements, but does not fund them.
“They make laws we’re obligated to follow without funding,” he said.
Dr. Fossbender said that while he in no way resents the children with special needs in the schools — noting that they bring “joy” to the schools — he does resent “the onus” the state’s requirements place on the district.
Some Board of Finance members suggested that a review was in order to figure out the best way to serve the needs of special education children while keeping costs down.
Failed motions
Before the Board of Finance accepted the school board’s budget, the members were divided over just how much spending could be eliminated.
Mr. Hanson’s initial motion to decrease the budget by $200,000 was shot down, as was a follow-up suggestion by board member Elise Broach to cut the budget by $100,000.
“I thought it was a tight budget,” Ms. Broach said. “I can tell that a lot of thought went into it. But if we accept it and it gets rejected we will have to dig a lot deeper.”
Mr. Kachele agreed with Ms. Broach.
“We want a budget that can pass the first time,” Mr. Kachele said. “Everyone is watching money. Other town’s budgets are being voted down big time... There’s no trend in the region of a willingness to spend a great deal.”
A stalemate among board members ensued for a while as six other motions were made to reduce spending — which were all promptly rejected.
Mr. Kachele made a motion for a decrease of $150,000, which resulted in a tie vote. That is ruled a defeat. Mr. Hanson and Mr. Tartaglione joined Mr. Kachele in voting in favor of the amount while Ms. Broach, Mr. Partridge and Mr. Pompa voted against it.
Mr. Kachele then said that Mr. Pompa was being “unproductive” in the discussion by not contributing. Mr. Pompa said he felt he was contributing and was not being unproductive.
Mr. Hanson “urged” $150,000 “in the spirit of compromise.”
“The methodology we’ve used up to now would point to a 4.09% increase, or a $210,000 reduction,” said Mr. Kachele, adding that by not making the reduction, it appears the board places a “greater emphasis on education than other departments.”
Claire Gold, board alternate, said that they did not cut personnel in other departments.
Mr. Tartaglione noted that the discussion started at $200,000 versus $100,000 and they were now at $150,000 so he felt they had compromised.
Board alternate Fred Knopf also felt they had compromised.
“The mid-point to me and anyone who can do arithmetic is $150,000,” he said.
Mr. Broach felt $150,000 was too high of a cut.
“I felt $100,000 after the presentation was a good number,” she said. “I think $137,500 is a good compromise. I want to be fair to voters and the school system.”
Mr. Kachele said that it’s a judgment call but stressed that his feeling was reducing the Board of Education budget by anything less than $150,000 is not a passable budget.
At this point, Mr. Partridge made a motion to reconsider $150,000. The motion was passed by Mr. Tartaglione, Mr. Hanson and Mr. Partridge and the amount was “back on the table.”
The $150,000 decrease then passed by a vote of 3-2, with Mr. Partridge, Mr. Tartaglione and Mr. Hanson voting in favor while Ms. Broach and Mr. Pompa voted against it.
Mr. Partridge felt he did the right thing by reintroducing the amount of $150,000, which he originally voted against.
“I think the board has to come together,” he said. “Twenty-five thousand dollars is minimal in terms of the whole budget. I think it’s a good budget.”
Town budget
The board then voted unanimously in favor of passing the town budget as a whole. The selectman’s budget is $15,620,785, an increase of 2.48%, the Easton Board of Education budget is $14,479,258, an increase of 4.53% over the current year’s budget, and the Region 9 Board of Education’s budget is $9,503,310, an increase of 9.12% over Easton’s current share of the current Region 9 budget. The town’s share of spending at Region 9, which covers Joel Barlow High School, is based on the number of students it has in the school; Redding will bear the rest of the cost.
Mr. Kachele said the proposed 4.76% increase is a good budget that the town can support.
“Everyone will feel some pain, the taxpayers and the town,” he said. “But we will still see the same level of service. I think these numbers can fly. The board members and departments put in a tremendous amount of work. I hope the voters will see it that way.”
First Selectman Tom Herrmann was happy with the proposed budget.
“I’m extremely pleased with the effort everyone put forth and feel confident that this is a budget the town can support,” he said.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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