Budget Passes On Fourth Attempt

By John Voket

Councilman Joseph Borst said he has been involved in Newtown politics for more than 35 years, and he has never seen a town budget go to four referendums. But the fourth time was apparently the charm as Yes votes finally outpaced No votes by a count of 430.

According to Registrars of Voters Karen Aurelia and LeReine Frampton, the final count was 2,879 for and 2,449 against the $99,878,877 spending package that will provide just under $37 million for town programs and services, and almost $63 million to the Board of Education.

School Superintendent Evan Pitkoff, who is departing the post June 30 for a position with a regional education support network in Fairfield, said one of his final school board meetings will find him observing elected officials deliberating cuts in excess of $1.9 million from the original school district budget that was adopted by the Board of Education and sent on to the finance board for review and further refinement.

Dr Pitkoff said that final school board budget meeting will likely take place June 19.

“I’ll be going in with recommendations,” he said. “But we’ll have to consider the natural flow of the numbers taking into account things like fuel prices and insurance costs.”

Dr Pitkoff said the board will have to take a hard look at direct-to-pupil services and class sizes when balancing fixed costs of payroll and benefits against the final approved budget allocation. He described the passage of the fourth budget referendum as “bittersweet,” considering the nearly $2 million in subsequent cuts that will need to be made before July 1.

Mr Borst, who said he is considering a run for the first selectman’s seat in November, said he was glad the budget process for this year was finally over. Mr Borst, along with freshman council member Keith Jacobs, consistently voted against budget cuts from the first recommendations.

“I couldn’t see [making] any further decreases in the budget,” Mr Borst said. “We couldn’t take any more without seriously hurting services in town. I’ve never seen it this bad — four referendums.”

Councilman Jacobs called the evening’s outcome a “hollow victory.”

“I’m just disappointed that more parents didn’t come out who have kids in the school system,” Mr Jacobs said. “Whether they approved of the budget or not, it’s a shame more parents didn’t take a stance.”

Kathy Fetchick, a Sandy Hook Elementary PTA member, and Mary Ann Jacob, president of that PTA, were on hand for the count and expressed relief and gratitude upon hearing the final count.

Ms Jacob said she would work toward trying to provide taxpayers with more information about town government and local projects in the hope that voters would be more informed come the next budget round.

“I’d love to see a townwide newsletter describing what the various town boards do, when they meet, and telling residents how to approach these various boards with concerns,” she said. “It’s all about facilitating better communication, especially for all the people who cannot attend outside meetings every night.”

Ms Fetchick said she was not looking forward to budget cuts that will have to occur to meet the approved bottom line.

“The real issue coming up next is to see the effects of cuts. That’s my real worry,” she said.

Council Chairman Will Rodgers said he was grateful to all the taxpayers who took time to come out and cast their vote.

“I’m pleased the process is over and the council can turn its attention to other matters,” he said.

Mr Rodgers previously pointed out that his fellow council members reduced the budget by $2.3 million since the initial proposal was forwarded by the finance board.