The town’s education budget will go to a historic fourth referendum on June 10 after voters rejected a zero-increase spending plan by 129 votes Tuesday.
The $29.1 million schools proposal failed to pass with a final vote of 845 – 974.
The $20.25 million town budget passed 1015 – 802.
Trouble
Now, the finance and school boards are left in a bind: voters’ rejection of the school budget could mean they want more cuts, but state statutes prohibit the board from reducing the school budget below its $29.1 million level without facing the removal of state education funding.
The state requires that school budgets not be any lower than the year before, and takes away money at a two-to-one ratio.
If the finance board cuts $100,000 from the school board budget, the state will remove an additional $200,000 in state special education funding as a penalty.
Superintendent MaryAnne Mascolo called the rejection of the zero-increase school budget “fiscally irresponsible.”
School board member Jeanne Loda said this was the worst she had seen the budget situation in her years on the board.
“It’s just such an irrational reaction,” she said. “How far below zero can you go? It’s going to affect the whole system.”
Both Mascolo and Finance Board Chairman Mark Thompson declined to say what will happen with the school budget from here.
Cuts and Consessions
After the second vote May 11, the education proposal was trimmed down by $690,000, to a zero percent increase.
Now, the finance board must meet within five days to discuss a new budget proposal for the schools.
On June 10, voters will go to the polls again to vote on a fourth school budget.
No further cuts will come from the town side of the budget after voters approved it Tuesday.
First Selectman Paul Roy said he was glad to see voters respond to the concessions offered by all town employees, who took week-long furloughs, wage freezes, or both.
“It seems to be what the townspeople were looking for,” he said, thanking employees and unions for concessions.
The total proposal is for $49.4 million, which meant a 0.98-mill, or 3 percent tax increase.
It would cost the owner of property assessed at $150,000 an additional $147 in taxes.
Turnout
The turnout of 1,819 voters at Tuesday’s budget referendum was more than then 1,794 that turned out at the first referendum, which is surprising, said moderator Lucy McConologue, as turnout usually declines with each successive vote.
But then again, budget votes usually don’t go to a third referendum – McConologue said only the schools had previously gone to a third referendum.
The education vote was closer Tuesday than at the second referendum, May 11, when voters rejected the school budget 649 to 1056.
What’s Next?
The town must have both budgets approved by June 15, per the charter.
The town budget will go into effect then, but if the school budget is not approved by then, the town will begin using the most recently rejected budget.
Tax bills will be sent out soon after that, based on whatever budgets are in effect.
Votes will continue through the summer until a final school budget is approved, then the final tax bills will be sent out based on the total budget.
Sending out a round of tax bills costs about $20,000, while each referendum costs between $3,000 and $4,000, Roy said.
