Even The Fiscally Frugal

Support The Budget

To the Editor:

On April 14, 2004, the Legislative Council voted 11 to 1 to maintain the education budget as cut by the Board of Finance. Eleven members of the Legislative Council support the education budget, even some of whom are fiscally conservative. The town side of the budget is lean as well, making for a very conservative total budget.

These 11 Legislative Council members thoroughly reviewed and analyzed the budget before deciding to support it. They have commented publicly that the education budget is responsible and well-developed and that the superintendent and the Board of Education have done a good job in putting it together. Some of these members have historically voted to reduce proposed education budgets, but this year they are comfortable with it.

The following 11 Legislative Council members voted to support the 2004-2005 education budget as presented by the Board of Finance:

Joseph Dicandido               Republican           District 1

             Michael J. Iassogna           Republican           District 1

             Francis G. Pennarola         Democrat              District 1

             Peggy Baiad                         Democrat              District 2

             Joseph E. Borst                   Republican           District 2

             Joseph M. Hemingway      Democrat              District 2

             Timothy J. Holian              Democrat              District 2

             Daniel J. Amaral                                Democrat              District 3

             David E Brown                    Republican           District 3

             William F.L. Rodgers        Republican           District 3

             James A. Shpunt, Sr          Democrat              District 3

The First Selectman has also publicly stated his support of the education budget at a recent Legislative Council meeting. 

The following breakdown of the education budget gives an overview of why it is so lean. Nearly all of the budget increase is due to increases in fixed costs and costs related to projected population growth:

Fixed costs, exclusive of costs related to growth, 4.72 percent. (This includes contractual agreements, insurance and energy cost increases.)

Costs directly related to growth and enrollment, 2.09 percent (106 new students projected).

Amount left to address additional needs of the school system, 0.05 percent.

The total is 6.86 percent.

This illustrates that there is no waste and no room for any further cuts in the education budget.

Support a responsible and fair total budget with your Yes vote on April 27.

Joan Plouffe

Michele Hankin

123 Poverty Hollow Road           

48 Mount Pleasant Rd                                                 April 21, 2004