Who’s Watching

The Store?

To the Editor:

This letter is in response to last week’s article “School Business Director Warns Of Excess Budget Expenses.” The school based their budget (and I use that term loosely since it seems to be more of an open checkbook) on an oil price of $2.05/gallon — a figure that was far too low based on the historical US energy statistics.

This error resulted in a new projection that is $116,000 higher than budget. This is a prime example of our elected officials not “watching the store” and is one of the reasons that my taxes are out of control. Back when I was responsible for budgets at IBM, if I forecasted figures that far off, there would have been repercussions! The latest Energy Information Administration forecasted prices of $2.53/gallon for 2007 in the Northeast. $2.02? I don’t think oil prices have been that low since 1999. Someone needs to watch the proverbial store.

Now we are stuck with paying $116,000 more this year; $116,000 that can’t possibly be rejected now because we have to heat the buildings; $116,000 that should have been included and analyzed at the same time as the headcount increases and salary increases that went through at budget time.

It’s unfair to people who live and budget within their means to pay taxes to a local government that can’t live within its own income and budgets.

For reference, the article stated: “First on Mr Bienkowski’s list is the fuel oil account. Oil is currently costing the schools $2.43 per gallon, compared to the $2.05 per gallon budgeted. Based on current prices and anticipated needs, this could result in a shortfall of over $116,000.”

Sincerely,

Jen Rocky

Church Hill Road, Newtown                                      October 19, 2007