Welcoming invited members of the Boards of Selectmen, Education, and Finance to the December 18 Legislative Council meeting, Chairman Paul Lundquist kicked off a “pre-budget budget conversation,” which also included some remarks from 2nd District State Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan.

As the meeting opened, Mr Lundquist mentioned that the entire Newtown delegation was expected, but that State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28), and Reps Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) and JP Sredzinski (R-112) were unable to make it back from a Special Session of the Legislature called earlier that day by Governor Ned Lamont.

Mr Lundquist reminded officials that neither selectmen nor the school board had even begun formal budget reviews. But he said the council likes to hold an early gathering of local and state officials to discuss high-level issues, as well as providing a chance for town and school officials to relate any specific budget drivers they expected would come into focus more clearly in the coming weeks — once they were “knee-deep” in deliberations about their respective 2020-21 spending plans.

Rep Allie-Brennan was also in a position ahead of the upcoming “short session” of the General Assembly to offer little information about what to expect coming out of the statehouse and legislature in 2020, although he already learned that state leadership would not entertain any bills from committees that were not directly pertinent to the state budget.

In regard to state money for schools, the lawmaker said while he is not serving on any committees related to state finance oversight, he is keeping an eye on education issues and funding for all four of the communities in his district — Danbury, Redding, Bethel, and Newtown — “when there’s money on the table for Newtown, you can be sure we’ll grab that.”

On a question from Councilman Ryan Knapp about rumors of future state budget deficits running up to $1 billion, Rep Allie-Brennan replied that “things can change quickly,” and that although “things are looking good for now,” in terms of school and municipal state aid, “these are conversations we’ll have to have after this budget year.”

The lawmaker telegraphed a shared concern about how much money the state would have to find, given anticipated revenue from a tax on now outlawed plastic shopping bags failed to materialize as expected. And Rep Allie-Brennan was surprisingly candid, conveying his frustration over the fact that Governor Ned Lamont’s administration appeared to be using bond money for municipal road projects “as a bargaining chip for tolls.”

“We’re waiting for that bonding,” he said, referring to municipalities that have been waiting six months for promised allocations. He said the governor is “still holding it over our heads,” and that while the lawmaker does not believe Gov Lamont “will take anything away — we’re still waiting for transportation to be dealt with.”

Saying there were other revenue opportunities available like legalizing cannabis for recreational use, and developing other avenues for legal gaming, “I’m frustrated we went into this session with a plan to toll.”

Rep Allie-Brennan said “I felt the Transportation Committee could have found another way to [roll out a highway toll initiative], adding that “the plan was botched the way they announced it.”

“They want to do what they want to do,” he said. “But I don’t think someone from Danbury should pay $400 a year to drive to Waterbury to go to work.”

Municipal ‘Same Services’

Promising another council session where the absent state officials could weigh in and respond to questions, Mr Lundquist prompted First Selectman Dan Rosenthal to move on with any high level municipal budget details he wanted to share.

Mr Rosenthal said as far as departmental budget requests were concerned, “I don’t anticipate any surprises.”

The first selectman said he telegraphed to all department heads that he expected them to come in this year with “same services” budget proposals. With salaries and benefits as the biggest drive — utilizing about 30 percent of the overall municipal spending plan — Mr Rosenthal quickly reviewed increases that were negotiated with local municipal union leaders.

He also prepared council and finance representatives for an anticipated $350,000 bump in debt service for bonding on approved municipal and school capital projects. Debt service for all town capital projects, including for the school system, is part of the municipal budget package.

Turning to the subject of ongoing road work and a plan to eventually build a $3 million annual allocation into the Highway Department’s operating budget, Mr Rosenthal said he was cycling down borrowing or bonding for road work and creating simultaneous corresponding increases on the operating side.

The first selectman said the ideal situation once an annual operating budget for roads hits $3 million and bonding has ceased, would be to “set it and forget it.”

“We should create that annual $3 million spend and inflate it every year — but run it 100 percent out of operating [budget],” he said. “If our goal is to stop bonding, we have to do it. We have a plan to put [necessary] resources to it, but if we don’t, we’ll be playing catch-up forever.”

Councilman Dan Wiedemann reiterated a suggestion to apply a chunk of revenue from anticipated FEMA storm reimbursements to hasten the reduction of town dependence on bonding for roads, and Mr Rosenthal appeared agreeable to considering it once all other monies tapped from prior budgets and accounts for storm cleanup from the May 2018 macrobursts have been reimbursed.

“It’s the council’s prerogative to take some of that money to reduce bonding,” Mr Rosenthal said.

Before turning to school officials, Mr Lundquist reminded municipal leaders that he hoped to see a plan by which the Booth Library, Edmond Town Hall, and the new Community Center can coordinate and offer meeting and event space to ensure all three facilities continue to see rental revenues that help supplement their public budget allocations.

Enrollment Ramifications

Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue was next to present, telling officials that she is watching Hartford closely in regard to funding, but also expressed concerns as overall enrollment continues to fall.

While the district is down 65 students overall, the superintendent said as of September, special education students now represent more than 14 percent of the overall enrolment. Dr Rodrigue said she has been talking with staff, parents, and PTAs, particularly about a recent enrollment study that indicates the district will continue to see overall enrollment declines through 2029.

“That [decline] will have a direct impact on this and future budgets,” she said.

As the district’s special education costs continue to increase, she said the overall enrollment decline means the district will see corresponding reductions in state aid.

“I still have to advocate for adequate resources for the kids,” she said, “and ensure our campuses are safe. We’ve been afforded adequate budgets to keep the staff we need,” she added indicating current payroll and benefits utilize about 79 percent of the district’s overall budget.

While she said the district is seeing some nominal energy savings and the declining enrollment creates a few strategic savings opportunities, decreases in class sizes will mean a likely reduction in staff.

“Putting special ed programming into place [will require] adjusting staffing. It will be difficult and will impact programming if not next year, the year after,” Dr Rodrigue said.

Mr Lundquist said once budget deliberations begin on the district’s proposal, he hopes to see a clear and comprehensive presentation of data that articulate staffing adjustments and how they are tied to enrollment. He also hopes to see how special ed increases may require the shifting or even adding of staff in that area.

“Those factors help people understand why a lower overall population is increasing the budget,” the council chairman added.