School Board Members Ask Council To Rescind Budget Cut

John Voket

A small but unified team of supporters came to the Booth Library Wednesday advocating for more school funding as the Legislative Council prepared to formally receive next year’s town budget proposal.

Standing before the full council, school board member Paul Mangiafico made a brief, impassioned plea for the restoration of some cuts to his organization’s side of the 2005-2006 proposal. The council is the last stop in a protracted review process before a finalized budget is presented to taxpayers for approval.

Last week, the Board of Finance finished its phase of work on the package, voting to cut $400,000 from the school’s $4.7 million proposal. Factoring in more modest municipal-side cuts, the budget passed on to council members Wednesday represented a $90 million-plus proposal.

If the numbers remain unaltered by the council, and the proposal is subsequently approved by a majority of eligible taxpayers, it will increase local taxes by 4.8 percent, raising next year’s tax rate to 26.1 mills.

A mill represents one dollar in taxes for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

Among the group advocating for the schools were Superintendent Evan Pitkoff, Finance Director Ron Bienkowski, Mr Mangiafico, and fellow board members Andrew Buzzi, Jr, and Lisa Schwartz. Several of those representatives took their turn addressing the council members during the meeting.

Speaking in a firm but conversational tone, Mr Mangiafico said he suspected there were several schools of thought among the council members about how to proceed with the budget.

“I think some of you feel some of the money should be further reduced, others feel the budget should stay the same, and others feel some of the money should be put back,” Mr Mangiafico said.

Mr Mangiafico continued reminding the council that even if additional money was cut before the public vote, he felt confident the school system would survive.

“We have a fine school system,” he said. “And we will do whatever is necessary to keep it that way.”

During his comments, Mr Mangiafico said he empathized with school administrators who had to reallocate funds from programs and improvement projects that were already approved in last year’s budget to cover the emergency expanses resulting from an oil release at Reed Intermediate School.

“We didn’t plan for that. The money [to pay for environmental response and oil removal] came out of this year’s budget, and that’s not exactly fair,” he said.

Instead of requesting the full restoration of the $400,000 cut, however, Mr Mangiafico said the board could still salvage some of the higher priority initiatives if the council saw fit to reinstate $216,000.

That figure represents the amount of money the school board initially committed to the town to help offset what is predicted to be a $1 million-plus liability. Last month, town officials approved a plan to bond up to $1 million in lieu of potential future legal settlements for the accidental spill.

In exchange for the town’s taking on both the financial and future administrative responsibility for the remaining oil remediation, officials asked the school board to make a partial contribution to the effort. Money paid by the school system was used to offset an initial raft of bills for emergency response on December 30, and in the days following the discovery of the leaking heating oil from an underground tank.

While those initial bills totaled more than $216,000, anything above that amount already paid by the Board of Education would be repaid as soon as the bond funds became available, according to First Selectman Herb Rosenthal.

During his appeal to the council, Mr Mangiafico also empathized about rapidly accelerating health plan costs that further burdened the school budget.

“I share your concerns about this horrendous increase in health insurance,” he said. “It effects us greatly in negotiations, some of which are going on as we speak. And it prevents us from spending money to benefit the school system.”

In closing he said there was justification to add some money back into the school’s budget before the council finalized the town budget for public vote.

“I think you will vote instinctively on what is fair in this budget,” Mr Mangiafico said. “Whatever you decide, we will respect you for it.”

Ms Schwartz lent her voice on the record appealing for up to the full restoration of the $400,000 reduction to the proposed budget increase. She cited last year’s resounding endorsement of the budget following a single town vote as evidence that the community would likely accept and could justify increased taxes to underwrite education costs.

“That budget passed by over 1,000 votes,” Ms Schwartz said. “I see that as an endorsement and a notable achievement.

She said that traditionally, Newtown taxpayers have supported the education department’s standard of excellence.

“They’ve shown already they are willing to support it,” she said. “If I could ask you to restore some of the funds, that would be wonderful.”

A few minutes later, finance subcommittee Chair Joseph DeCandido observed that almost 70 percent of the total tax increase in the budget proposal was designated to cover the school budget, and that 79 percent of that increase covered salaries.

“I have to ask you, when do you consider the draw is too much, when it gets to 99 percent?” he asked. “Why isn’t anyone speaking out against a system that is working against us?”

To that, Mr Mangiafico replied that his board, and the schools’ representatives in school labor negotiations, were willing to step up.

“I can tell you that more than one person on this board has heard your comments and takes them to heart,” he said. “And we are taking a strategic look, not only at this contract but future school contracts and town labor contracts, to try and do something about it.”

Before the meeting closed, council Chairman William Rodgers reminded the group that it was his wish to see the council pass the budget on April 6. He confirmed a March 30 public hearing date for final public input on the proposal.

In preparation, the council called for a special meeting to discuss particulars of the budget March 23 at 7:30 pm in a location do be determined. The council also decided to hear recommendations from the finance subcommittee following their review, but before the entire council votes on the budget.

The finance subcommittee subsequently set a March 31 date for a meeting, location to be announced.