Date: Fri 19-Feb-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

council-budget-schools

Full Text:

Council Restores Some Funds For Schools

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Legislative Council Tuesday voted to restore $173,000 to the Board of

Education's budget after members realized the town's anticipated tax increase

was not as high as first thought.

Last week, the council cut $1 million from the school board's requested $3.3

million increase in an effort to keep the tax rate increase at one mill.

However, this week's budget meeting revealed an overall increase of only 0.9

mills due to cuts in the selectmen's side of the budget and a newly discovered

revenue.

That changed the complexion of the budget, according to council member Karen

Blawie, and it prompted the council to take a second look at things.

"Our goal has been a one mill increase this year," noted John Kortze, chairman

of the council's finance committee. "When I saw it was going to be lower than

a mill, I felt we should stick to the game plan and add money where we could."

The one mill increase is expected to raise taxes by about four percent from

26.9 mills to 27.9 mills.

Following the $173,000 adjustment, the council adopted a proposed 1999-2000

budget of $62,048,696. Of that, the Board of Education will receive

$34,740,079 -- a 8.4 percent increase over the current budget.

"Obviously any money that can be given to support a greater portion of the

board's budget is great news. It's a significant amount of money," noted

Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed. "One of my major personal concerns is

the staffing needs we need to meet next year. This will help."

Mr Kortze made the original motion to add the $173,000, a move council member

Ed Lucas attempted to amend to $250,000. The amendment failed, 7-5.

The tax rate increase was dropped to .9 mills after the council opted to fund

$173,000 worth of administrative costs through state funding. Also, the town

picked up $272,000 in additional revenue following a surprising discovery this

week. Tax Assessor Denise Hames said the money was overlooked due to a

computer malfunction last August that corrupted a hard-drive.

Mr Kortze said the school board benefited most by council's decision to bring

the tax rate back up to one mill. It received 98.5 percent of the added money

with Newtown Youth Services picking up an extra $2,500.

Library Budget Trimmed

The selectmen's budget of $27,308,617 was also approved. Prior to its

approval, however, council members voted to reduce the library's proposed

budget by $20,000.

Peggy Baiad led the drive to cut the budget, saying the $20,000 could be

raised at the library's annual book sale. But there is doubt as to whether to

Friends of the Library will be able to hold the event this year due to a lack

of space at the library. It is still unknown whether or not the library will

be able to hold the book sale at Bridgeport Hall on the campus of Fairfield

Hills as it has done in recent years.

The council voted to add $2,000 to the Family Counseling Center's proposal.

Debt Service

On Tuesday, the council also approved a plan to pay $7.45 million worth of

debt service next year. Debt service represents 12 percent of the town's total

budget -- a high percentage according to Moody's Investment Service -- but

less than last year.

"It's coming down. Last year would have been higher," noted Finance Director

Ben Spragg.

Actually, the 1997-98 debt service may have been the largest due to the

construction projects at the High School and Hawley School.

"We're paying it down," Mr Spragg said.

Debt service has become a big issue with town officials in recent years. The

town has increased its indebtedness significantly and several large project

still lie ahead.

However, Ted Ruddick of Ashford Lane, claims Newtown's high debt service

should not be cause for lowering school spending. "I work for MBIA, which

provides financial services for Newtown. I can assure you this community is

not over-leveraged," he said.

Public Hearing

The proposed budget heads to a public hearing March 30 when school supporters

are expected to request that additional funds be restored to the Board of

Education budget. The budget can still be revised at that time. On Tuesday,

Jack Ryan of Beckett Village had requested that the council add $250,000.

"We realize you are looking down the road at other costs, but I believe we

would support the budget if we had an adjustment of $250,000," he said.

But will townspeople back a $173,000 adjustment? The council is betting they

will.