Rowayton Elementary School parent Shannon Thkotova went to the PTO Council budget workshop Wednesday night to hear city officials explain the budget process. She also had several questions of her own regarding possible union givebacks and whether the city could levy any other taxes for schools besides property taxes. (It can't).
The PTO Council meeting was designed to give the community a broad look at the budget process from the city and schools side, and the topics and questions were all over the map. Fred Wilms, chairman of the Board of Estimation & Taxation, explained the city's budget scenario. "We are in a somewhat better place than last year," though the situation is still grim, he said. Wilms explained that the current school year's budget had a zero percent increase over the previous budget.
He said he expects the school board to receive a 2 percent increase for 2011-12, which is less than the 3.3 percent increase recommended by Superintendent Susan Marks. And he expects the city's overall tax rate to increase about 2 percent. He said taxpayers, especially senior citizens and residents on fixed incomes, cannot afford anything more.
Wilms echoed Mayor Richard Moccia's call for a "spirit of shared sacrifice." He called on the unions to take a one-year wage freeze. Union leaders Bruce Mellion and Tony Ditrio were at the meeting but didn't respond to Wilms' comments.
Lynne Moore, principal of West Rocks and a Norwalk resident, challenged Wilms. "What's a percent more, $120 to $180?" she asked, referring to increase that the average homeowner would see in their property tax.
Common Council members Doug Hempstead and Rick McQuaid also spoke, as did Marks and school board Finance Committee Chairman Steve Collarossi.
Parents asked whether principals could control their school's budget. They also questioned the salaries of top administrators and whether they would forgo raises or take pay cuts. Marks has already said she won't take a salary increase. Marc Robinson said the budget should look out five years and more clearly "reflect the goals of the school district." Kerry O'Neill, PTO Council vice president, asked whether technology upgrades and related staff could be included in the capital budget. Outsourcing and consolidation of services were mentioned as possible ways to save money.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
A quick correction: I am honored to serve as the Chairperson of the Finance Committee. Jack Chiaramonte is the Chairperson of the Board of Education.
ReplyDeleteMy role at the PTOC meeting was to explain the process that the Finance Committe would use in evaluating the budget, assessing the impact of any cuts and then how recommendations might be made to the entire Board.
At this stage, we are still awaiting a complete breakdown of all of our grant funding, the proposed uses for those funds and as I've requested, a revised budget document that delineates all our district's needs and all sources of funding for those needs.
Oops. I know that ;). I've corrected. Thanks Steve.
ReplyDelete