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04/29/2018 03:15 PMNORTH BRANFORD - With some adjustments made by the Town Council, North Branford schools are now set to receive an increase of $650,000 in next year’s budget, instead of a zero percent increase. The increase does not impact the slight mill rate decrease (less than 0.11 mills) being proposed in the budget, which would bring the rate down from 33.51 to 33.39 mills next year. On Tuesday, May 8, the $52.26 million 2018-19 Town Budget goes to referendum question vote.
The official question is "Shall the Town Council Recommended Budget of $52,269,377, which will require a mill rate of 33.39 mills, be adopted?" Registered voters can vote to approve the budget, or reject it as too high or too low. The town's two polling places include District 1 at Jerome Harrison Elementary School (335 Foxon Road/Route 80) and District Two at Stanley T. Williams Community Center (1332 Middletown Avenue/Route 17). Polls are open from noon - 8 p.m. By town charter, at least 15 percent of the electorate needs to vote for the results to be actionable by Town Council; otherwise the council’s recommended budget is adopted.
The $52.26 million 2018-19 town budget includes $31,647,175 for the Board of Education (BOE); $15,446,826 for Town Government (police, fire, public works, and other town operations); $705,000 to be funded for Capital Improvements; $400,000 from the town’s General Fund Balance for Capital Improvements; and $4,070,376 for Debt Service (bond repayments).
The decision to provide a $650,000 annual increase for the town’s schools began with a Town Council meeting on April 17, packed with residents opposed to the council’s party-line, 6-3 vote on April 10 to flatline the school budget increase next year (see the story here). On April 17, the council unanimously approved adding $149,222 to the 2018-19 school budget, using money from the town’s General Fund Balance, in advance of anticipated reimbursement of that amount from state Special Education Excess Cost grant money. The BOE annually budgets 100 percent for Special Education funding; the state grant pays the town back for excess special education costs (those exceeding traditional student costs).
According to the meeting minutes, Deputy Mayor Rose Marie Angeloni (R) made the motion based on past council-approved actions. In 2016-17, she noted, the then-Democratic majority council approved an annual BOE budget increase of $300,000, with another $149,122 to be funded from Special Education Excess Cost grant funds.
Additionally, the council unanimously approved Angeloni’s motion to establish a town-managed BOE savings account as allowed by state law, to be funded to an amount equaling up to one percent of the annual school budget (currently, $300,000). The BOE can use the savings for unbudgeted capital or operational expenses but would need to report uses to the town. The account will be funded using excess money the BOE transfers out of the school budget at the end of each fiscal year. Angeloni gave an example of a BOE benefits line-item transfer of nearly $500,000 last year which paid for some unbudgeted items.
The council heard from eleven residents who spoke passionately about providing more funds to the schools next year. They cited concerns including potential teacher and staff cuts, the possible loss of extra-curricular activities, the need to foster a superior academic school system to attract new tax-paying residents and businesses; and that failing to support an schools budget increase will have a negative impact on North Branford’s children and the community.
Next, on April 23, the Town Council convened again for a final review of funding the 2018-19 schools budget. According to the meeting minutes, the council ultimately voted (7-2) in support of Angeloni’s motion to increase the schools operational budget next year by another $500,000 from Education Cost Sharing (ECS) monies. Voting in support were Republicans Angeloni, Mayor Michael Doody, council members Al Rose, Anthony Candelora, Robert Viglione and Thomas Zampano and Democrat Joseph Faughnan. Voting against were Democrats Marie Diamond and George Miller.
The figures are based on North Branford receiving $800,000 in ECS money. Each year, towns are eligible to receive state funding for special education students through ECS, which is the state’s main education equalization aid grant. ECS money is separate from state’s Special Education Excess Cost grant, which reimburses districts for additional special education costs.
On April 23, prior to a 7-2 vote approving a $500,000 increase the BOE operational budget, the council was split along party lines regarding how the increase amount was arrived at. Democrats on the council were concerned that the money is not enough to cover a “status quo” contractual shortfall of over $693,000 for 2018-19. Angeloni later noted she found the BOE had provided information, as part of its “status quo” area of the budget (Section Two), that the district has plans to cut two teachers, decrease one bus from the transportation contract, and other revisions; which she said adds up to a reduction of $225,000 to the requested status quo budget.
In addition on April 23, by a party-line vote of 6-3, the council approved use of $150,000 in ECS funding for two school capital projects next year. The money was calculated based on providing $50,000 for sidewalk and curbing repair at schools and $100,000 for ventilation replacement at one building.
Mayor Doody said the council not only is increasing the BOE operating budget by $650,000 (adding together $500,000 in ECS funds and $149,122 to be funded from Special Education Excess Cost grant funds) but is additionally providing $150,000 to address two capital projects; for a total 2018-19 increase of $800,000. He also noted Democratic-majority town councils in the past two budget cycles had approved BOE annual budget increases of $300,000 one year, and $310,000 another year, despite BOE requests for increases of $1 million each time.
The council then debated where to direct the balance of the $800,000 ECS funding (a total of $148,785); after Angeloni proposed $100,000 go to the town’s Public Works Equipment Reserve and the rest in the Town Contingency Fund. Democrats were concerned that the money should instead go to the BOE to assist with contractual obligations and avoid possibly cutting teachers or staff. By party line vote (6-3) the money was approved as recommended for the Public Works Equipment Reserve and Town Contingency Fund.