SCHOOL BOARD OKS BUDGET
TRISH DAVIS; Courant Staff WriterTHE HARTFORD COURANT
A school board divided along party lines Tuesday narrowly approved a 2003-04 budget that would increase spending 6 percent.
After debating how to meet the growing district's needs, the Republican-controlled board voted 5-4 to recommend the $34,797,889 plan.
The plan, now headed to the town council for review, is less than the budget recommended in December by then-Interim Superintendent Robert Goldman.
Days before his post ended in December, Goldman outlined a $35,094,756 budget that called for a 6.9 percent increase over current spending. That plan highlighted the district's need for additional teachers, textbooks and technology.
As an attachment to its vote Tuesday, the board stipulated that the lower-proposed increase not affect funds allocated for those needs. Board members said the amendment is important, as the district's enrollment is expected to increase by 97 students during the 2003-04 school year.
Republicans say they supported the 6 percent increase because it mirrors increases of previous years. Also, they say, the nearly $300,000 reduction from Goldman's plan would be made up by savings from lower-than-expected health care insurance plans. So far, school officials have estimated about $125,000 in savings. Superintendent C. Patrick Proctor could not, however, cite where officials would find the remaining $175,000 in savings.
Republican board member Claire Carney said the 6 percent increase could be perceived as a middle ground between meeting the municipal and school budget needs.
"It probably doesn't give us all the bells and whistles that we'd like, but it's a compromise," she said.
But Democrats called reducing the originally proposed school budget a "gamble," saying they felt uncomfortable doing that without proof of additional savings. Some said they feared the 6 percent increase could be cut further by the town council.
"I have a major issue with putting forth a vote when we are talking about indications and not facts," Democrat Stacey Hodges said after repeatedly asking board members to cite concrete sources for savings.
The Democrats also raised concerns about not receiving any written notices for 10 expected staff retirements calculated in Goldman's original budget proposal. The savings there would amount to about $225,000.
However, Assistant Superindent Robert Buganski said he expects to receive the notices from employees by the end of the school year.