Date: Fri 23-Apr-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

budget-Reed-Rosenthal

Full Text:

Town Set To Vote On $62.1 Million Budget

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Newtown taxpayers will head to the polls next Tuesday to vote on a proposed

$62.1 million budget, which increases the tax rate by one mill -- from 26.9 to

27.9 mills. This is about a three percent increase over the current budget.

The referendum will take place from 6 am to 8 pm in the middle school

gymnasium on Queen Street.

Fifty six percent of the overall budget will go to education, 32 percent will

fund the selectmen's portion of the budget with debt service making up the

remaining 12 percent.

Newtown's debt service ratio is one of the highest in the state and has been a

concern of town officials in recent years. The high debt stems from several

large capital projects the town has undertaken in recent years. More large

capital expenditures -- for the possible construction of a school, and for the

possible town purchase of Fairfield Hills -- may lie ahead.

Taxpayers will be called on to pay for 72.6 percent of the budget. The rest

will come from state revenue (13.7 percent), local fees and other revenues

(8.3 percent) and surplus (5.4 percent).

Last year, just 14 percent of the town's voters turned out to approve the

budget.

Support Expected

As in most budget seasons, the sharpest debate was between the Legislative

Council and the Board of Education over funding for schools. Facing a rapidly

growing enrollment, school board members urged the council to approve their

$3.3 million increase. But the council, concerned about future costs, made

significant cuts. The initial cut was more than $1 million, but was reduced by

about $200,000 after further consideration by council members.

The final cut of $800,000 left the school board with a $34.8 million budget.

Council members concluded that an 11 percent increase in school spending was

too much for the town to afford right now as it looks ahead to still more

major expenses. Council chairman Pierre Rochman asked school supporters to

look at the bigger picture when they enter the polls.

"I recognize and understand that there is tremendous pressure on the Board of

Education as a result of not getting the total request. But we ask people to

understand that there are so many pressures on the town as a result of all

this growth," he said. "We can't do everything that we would like to do."

Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed is asking school supporters to vote in

favor of the budget despite the cuts. The town's top educator admits Newtown's

school district needs more funding to address its growth, but he said that

this year he will take whatever he can get. He noted that history has shown

that the council does not always add money to the annual budget if it fails.

"When I listened to many members of the council, I felt they were validating

what we need and what the town can afford. Given their support of the 5/6

school at their recent meeting and what they've been able to help us with for

next year, I'm hoping that the budget passes," Dr Reed said.

But that doesn't mean the Board of Education is satisfied. Dr Reed expects a

request similar to this year's 11 percent increase for next year's budget. In

addition to the growth in population, there is great competition for hiring,

according to the superintendent. This year's cuts will need to be addressed at

some point, he said.

"I think what it means in the long term is that when we begin the budget

deliberations next year, we'll have $800,000 of what we need to deal with

right off bat. These needs are not going to go away," he said.

Among those needs are staffing at all levels, which took a bit of a hit after

the council's cut.

"As long as we have a growing enrollment, we're always going to be right up

against the wall in trying to provide for kids and in meeting our

responsibilities," Dr Reed said.

PTA President Joe Hemingway echoed Dr Reed's comments. His organization is

urging residents to vote "yes."

"It's the most we're going to get this year," he said.

Like last year, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal called the proposed town

spending package a "reasonable" budget.