This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
03/06/2018 12:00 PMWith the budget workshops over and budget season in full swing, at the Board of Selectman (BOS) meeting on Feb. 28 the board voted 3-2 to approve a proposed Board of Education (BOE) total budget of $36,153,322, an increase of $1,732,880, or five percent, from the 2017-’18 budget of $34,420,452. The proposed BOE budget joins the proposed $18,123,449 town budget, an increase of 3.48 percent, in going before the Board of Finance (BOF) for review and possible reduction before heading to voters.
The BOF held a special meeting on March 12 (after press time) to finalize the budgets. A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11 before the budget referendum on Wednesday, May 9.
The proposed BOE operating budget is $33,135,941. The proposed BOE capital budget is $400,000, which the BOS trimmed down from the original proposal of $476,000. The debt payment allocation is $2,617,831.
Selectman Phil Sengle made a motion to cut the proposed operating budget by $957,505, which would have placed the operating budget at $32,178,436. Sengle was supported in his motion by fellow Republican Selectman Carol Walter. The motion was rejected by Democrats Christine Goupil, Tim Guerra, and Jack Scherban.
Reading from a lengthy prepared statement, Sengle said, “I made this motion because I feel the school administration and Board of Education are not in tune with today’s financial realty. We need a shock to the system to get their attention.”
Sengle pointed to salary increases as an area for reduction. Sengle also suggested the schools “consolidate the business office with the town fire department,” close the Pierson School, and consider increasing class size.
The Abraham Pierson School serves grades 4 and 5. There were rumors last fall that the school would close. At that time, Superintendent of Schools Maryann O’Donnell told the Harbor News, “At this point, I don’t see it happening,” though she added, “In the next three to five years, perhaps it’s a conversation we’ll need to have.”
Walter also echoed Sengle’s ideas of significantly cutting the BOE operating budget.
“People are struggling with their taxes,” Walter said. “I’m embarrassed we can’t cut more here. I feel like we should have done more here,” Walter said.
Scherban said that removing the amount Sengle proposed would “cripple the education budget.”
“My concern is that to do this cut is to undermine the quality of education. I have an obligation as a parent to protect the quality of the education,” said Guerra.
O’Donnell told the Harbor News earlier in 2018, “The biggest drivers [for the operating budget increase] are salaries, benefits, transportation, and tuition.”
The proposed increase in the town and BOE budget may be a tough sell to Clinton voters. Clinton has repeatedly had trouble getting the town and schools budgets passed at the same referendum. Eight times since 2009, the town has required more than one referendum. In 2017, two referendums were required to pass the BOE budget. The town spends between $3,000 and $4,000 per referendum, according to the Town Clerk’s office.