A proposed $110 million 2010 – 2011 spending plan is now officially out of the hands of the tax board — but without an additional $3.5 million parents and educators were hoping for.
Members of the Board of Apportionment and Taxation handed a suggested budget to the Aldermen during a meeting at City Hall Tuesday in front of about 150 school supporters who had stood outside the building for three hours holding signs that read “Kids First! Fund the budget” and “Kids are Shelton’s future.”
Parents, students and school staff said that without additional money for the school district, massive layoffs will occur. Ninety-one school employees have already been notified their jobs could be on the chopping block without additional cash for the district.
The Tax Board Talks
The six person tax board, during their deliberations this month over the budget, were deadlocked 3 – 3 on how to make changes, so the budget first presented by Mayor Mark Lauretti left their table untouched.
At Wednesday’s meeting, members of the tax board gave speeches explaining their positions. Lauretti was not there.
The Democrats on the tax board wanted to give more money to the schools. The Republicans had reservations about the amount.
In a prepared statement read at the meeting, Tax Board Chairman Mark Holden noted that the economy — nationally and in Shelton — is still in rough shape. A tax hike in this economic climate isn’t feasible, the chairman said.
Click the video titled “Mark Holden” to hear his remarks in full.
Holden said his fellow Republicans on the tax board were “opposed to increasing the Board of Education budget by any amount that would require a tax increase or hurt or AA bond rating.”
Holden also pointed out that the school district is locked into teacher contracts with high salaries that do not make sense in the today’s economic climate.
Holden said under the school budget, about one-third of the teaching staff will receive between $80,000 and $90,000 next year.
“Almost 25 percent will make over $90,000. That’s considerably more than our average taxpayer makes,” Holden said.
Tax Board member Judson Crawford Shelton residents would support a small tax increase to fund the school budget.
“A .49 percent mill increase, it would amount to approximately to $135 per household,” Crawford said.
He said the education budget, as is, will hurt Shelton.
“All that the Board of Education has accomplished will be scrapped under the mayor’s ax,” Crawford said.
Crawford and fellow tax board member Faith Hack felt politics had infected budget deliberations.
Click the video titled “Jud Crawford” to hear his remarks in full.
Parents, Kids Rally
Parents outside City Hall Wednesday were disappointed at the turn out. While 650 people packed a Board of Education meeting last week to talk about the school budget, about 150 people came to Wednesday’s rally.
They were hoping to send another strong, symbolic message to elected officials. They hope to attract larger crowds at the next Aldermen meeting — and at a public hearing on the budget.
“We’re rallying out here to get more money for the school district next year,” said Monica Rivera, who has two young children in the district. She stood holding a sign reading “Kids First! Fund the budget.”
Rivera moved to Shelton four years ago.
“Since I moved to Shelton, it’s been a great experience. I’ve been very happy with the school system. The teachers are dedicated. Everyone works really hard. It’s a very strong community and I’d hate to see any of that change.”
Click the video titled “Paula Gill Lopez” for an interview with Shelton parent and Fairfield University professor Paula Gill Lopez, who talks about what the budget means for the city.
Budget Details
According to the city’s charter, Lauretti has until April 4 to make changes to his proposed budget.
The total proposed budget in Shelton is $110,099,399.
That includes $63,100,000 for the school district and $46,999,399 for city operations.
The school budget is increasing by $95,363, according to figures from the tax board.
The city side of the budget will decrease by $323,546.
