At budget time, the City of Ansonia presents a detailed budget that totals over 1,000 pages.
By comparison, the Board of Education submits a Budget Summary of about 44 pages.
While a budget summary is a good starting point, it does not contain the level of detail elected officials need to make informed policy decisions about the financial future of Ansonia. It does not provide the detailed information necessary for taxpayers to understand how their tax dollars are being spent, and to budget in the most responsible manner going forward.
Education is the single largest expense for Connecticut towns and cities. In Ansonia where the population hovers around 18,800, the Board of Education’s budget represents 51% of the entire municipal budget.
If we agree that this is the largest department in the City and of the utmost importance, then why shouldn’t we have the same level of detail from that department that we have from others?
In many communities both finance teams work together looking at each line item, budget adjustments, transfers, journal entry transactions, trial balances., etc. to determine 1) if there are any savings to be had and 2) if not, what line items are under budget and what lines have gone over.
That educated discussion is not happening in Ansonia, because the facts simply aren’t on the table.
Without the necessary facts, we find ourselves in an emotional argument where the interests of students are being pitted against taxpayers who simply cannot afford to pay more. Without facts, it is all too easy to accept that raising taxes is the only option to deal with the growing costs of government. And that is exactly what proponents of big government are demanding: “give us what we want, you don’t have a right to ask any questions, just keep giving us more and more each year.”
We are at the point now where we simply cannot sustain the size of government. Taxing our residents doesn’t resolve the issues. It just delays it for another budget season. We have seen all too well in Connecticut that raising taxes is not the answer. In fact, it’s the reason many residents are leaving Connecticut.
This entire cycle can be avoided with cooperation, dialogue, civility, and most importantly, the exchange of facts to discover the truth.
Our Aldermen require and deserve a much greater level of detail from the BOE if they are to do justice to both our students and our taxpayers. It’s about time the Board of Education provides ALL the necessary information so that an efficient and fair budget can be developed for our taxpayers.
Alderman Frank DeLibero
7th Ward Alderman
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