CHARTER REVISION COMMISSIONS PROVIDED NEW PROCESS ACCOMMODATING MANDATORY REFERENDUM...SO IN 2015...


Referendum #1 - the "no" votes defeat school budget by five (5) - turnout light.





Referendum #2:  YES - 688, NO - 313.  Listen to the call here.
What did this exercise show Westonites?  Ans. - there could very well be a quorum at ATBM next year, for one.



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BUDGET PROCESS NOW (MAY 1) BACK TO THE BOARD OF FINANCE:  
Read older FORUM story about it below...
http://www.thewestonforum.com/25720/selectmen-want-school-budget-increase-to-match-town-budget-increase/?utm_source=Weston+Forum&utm_campaign=2f90ca6709-FO_ONLINE_TODAY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_848b12f59d-2f90ca6709-193260349

CONTENTS:


Please note that this website index page has in the upper left, a search box...type in "budget" or "school budget" and there you have it - page upon page of what we reported...years and years!





T O W N    O F    W E S T O N    B U D G E T    P R O C E S S    F I S C A L    Y E A R    2 O 1 5  -  2 0 1 6 /   BOARD OF FINANCE REVIEWS, PUBLIC HEARING AND "DELIBERATION" MEETING;  ATBM no quorum;  Referendum #1 rejects school budget, approves Town and Capital;  Referendum #2 on only School Budget set for Saturday, May 16th from 9-5 at Town Hall Meeting Room
 


About Town intends to attend the Monday, March 9, 2015 Finance Board meeting reviewing the Selectmens' budget in person.  We will watch the Education budget review on Town TV.  We will definitely attend the Public Hearing and have something to say...as well, we think, as attending the Deliberation meeting. 

So this phase of the budget process starts...about the same time as Iditarod 2015!  MEETINGS TO WATCH:



T H E R E    I S    A    F I R S T    T I M E    F O R    E V E R Y T H I N G . . .
Back to Board of Finance Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 7:30pm in the Town Hall Meeting Room...


WHAT "WENT DOWN" -  $100k removed from the school budget.  Since this was a Board of Finance meeting, more here (FINANCE BOARD page).

ON TO REFERENDUM #2 ON QUESTION #2 SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015:  Board of Finance votes, 6-1,  responding to the 127-132 vote on Question #2 at the Referendum of April 30.



   
THE SHOCKED FEW IN THE CROWD WITNESSED THE RESULT...

This was the very first time the Town of Weston, the people of the Town of Weston, ever voted to cut the school budget.  At least that I can remember.

Mind you, the Board of Finance had done it a number of times - one in particular when Vincent Ferrandino was Superintendent, they took an axe to it, relatively speaking ($500.000 cut).  Superintendent Ferrandino then became the Commissioner of Education under Gov. Lowell Weicker.

I can't recall another one by the Board of Finance, but under the new system of mandatory Referendum it should be a slam-dunk for the School Budget to pass...or not?




 
Who attended ATBM at the April 22nd non-meeting tonight? T.S. Eliot  said it best "April is the cruelest month..." (opening line of The Wasteland) ending with Referendum April 30th, 12 noon to 8pm at Town Hall.  Absentee voting until polls open.
 

Well, there were 92 present to vote, (better than last year) but that was still shy of a quorum (130).  It didn't stop people from expressing exasperation of various kinds, from thanking long-time School finance director for her fine work and wishing her well in New Canaan...and for asking the First Selectman why his taxes had gone up higher than others had...About Town suggests that as far as understanding why taxes go up and by how much...we are just beginning to see a sea change in CT.




"DELIBERATION" MEETING OF THE BOARD OF FINANCE, 4-7-15

In India, First Selectman is only out of touch geographically!
First Selectman represented by Town Administrator.  Explanation by Finance Board member suggested why this is not the year to make changes in budget.

TOWN OPERATING BUDGET

Many specific questions fielded by Town Administrator and Finance Director. 
We note that the "Tower Committee" About Town served on many years ago is still bearing fruit to the positive side of Weston's Town Budget!


SCHOOL OPERATING BUDGET

4-3 to not cut school budget by $250,000
What can be done to start limiting the increase rate of School Budget?  We note that this very issue is alive and well in the CT Legislature this Session - "MBR" being addressed now - may lead to more regional school districts?


CAPITAL BUDGET
     
Half a dozen citizens - the rest Town and School employees, Board of Education members.
"Deliberation" meeting get nice size crowd - those who's budgets are in jeopardy show up...plus newspaper.  How does all of this relate to getting a quorum for ATBM?  Gotta get a quorum to find out!!!




Curiouser and curiouser...the FORUM initial short version of their story HERE;


Similarly to a few years ago, the support for one item exhibited did not seem to make an impression, and we expect the "Deliberation" meeting to consider a cut the Capital Budget item for Weston Library matching grant..


8PM WMS CAFETERIA TUESDAY NIGHT March 31st:  Channel 79 there to video it!
BOARD OF FINANCE PUBLIC HEARING, DELIBERATION AND...no vote, but after closing the PH, they discussed what to do next.

Any complaints about taxes in Weston from the public?  Not really.  Any support of the school budget?   Not really.  The Finance Board Chair. liked About Town's statement!  "Deliberation Meeting" Tuesday April 7th (we presume at 7:30pm in Town Hall).  Pointed out by one resident that everyone isn't the median income family!





Finance Board review of Board of Education Budget Wednesday, March 11, 2015. 
Very poor video as well as sound - since we watched this Finance Board event totally from home, it wouldn't surprise me if few were able to follow this and tuned out. 

However, we did make out what appeared to be all seven Board of Finance members present.  One member called a halt to regionalization discussion after a while as it was not in the purview of Finance Board to make decisions based on what might happen way down the road.  The Board of Education had done their homework.

    
WE TUNED IN TO CHANNEL 79 TO WATCH THE BOARD OF FINANCE REVIEW THE EDUCATION BUDGET...
I took a very, very dedicated listener to make out ANYTHING.  However, we got the drift.  At home we were able to read along with the documents and see where the questions were directed!  Go to the left side of the page (link is http://www.westonps.org/page.cfm?p=5624)  and click on PROPOSED 2015-2015 BUDGET, and then voila!  .


Regionalization  discussion broached at Board of Finance review of Board of Education budget.  Tough questions asked.  Answers given. 
Superintendent says all DRGs are feeling the pinch.  The problem is that increases in union agreements for salaries and benefits are built in and no significant savings are to be had in exchange for local control (our words here).  Unless the State of Connecticut wants to make like Wisconsin...don't hold your breath! 

Reading assignment for those wanting to ace this this "test" of how government works when you can watch it...we printed out the Superintendent's Executive Overview plus the Appendix on unfunded mandate...and both were mentioned during this meeting!  We suspect these are the critical parts to review, since the Board of Finance is not allowed to make specific cuts, only bottom line ones, anyway!  They have until March 31st's Public Hearing to read it all - plus the Board of Selectmen's budget.

FORUM story on Selectmen's Budget:  http://www.thewestonforum.com/26192/weston-finance-board-reviews-town-budget-2/
FORUM story on School salaries:  http://www.thewestonforum.com/26186/weston-schools-salary-request-tops-30-million/




Finance Board Review of Board of Selectmen's Budget
March 9, 2015 All seven members present.  In the audience, a quorum of both the Boards of Education and Selectmen.  Plus Library Board members, staff (who got a round of applause), plus Police Chief, Communications Center head, Animal Control Officer, Land Use Director.  And probably even more!!!  On Town TV, too.
 

 
NEW CEILING INSTALLED POWER POINT PROJECTOR NOT WORKING MONDAY...WILL IT WORK FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WEDNESDAY?
How will the Board of Education make out on Wednesday night?  We predict they will be asked to accommodate the Town's space needs.  Education budget history.


PAPER COPIES TO THE RESCUE?  ONLINE NOW?  LINK TO BUDGET SUMMARY.
Got off to a bad start when new power point technology in the historic Town Hall Meeting Room ended up as a "blue screen of death."



THE BOARD OF FINANCE WAS NOT AMUSED. 
And furthermore, a great supporter of the administration's approach in the past suddenly had a "Eureka!" moment...where were these expenses for enterprise funds recorded in the budget document?  What control is there - is the Selectmen's budget turning into a smaller version of the Education budget "bottom line only?"



WHAT ARE THEY THINKING? 
We saw live how the "across the boards equal cut" was received (c) but saw only some parts if the discussion on a "matrix of options"  when we got home after the first 2 hrs.  On to the Ed budget...Wednesday!






T O W N    O F    W E S T O N    B U D G E T    P R O C E S S    F I S C A L    Y E A R    2 O 1 5  -  2 0 1 6 / B O A R D    O F    E D U C A T I O N   B U D G E T   F O R M U L A T I O N
Proposed Superintendent's budget FY'16 now Board of Education's approved budget.

SCHOOLS Perhaps 80% of the entire budget for the Town of Weston...Selectmen suggest a 2.5% increase instead of 3.17% (already shaved to 2.8% by Ed Board staff).
     
  
The Board of Selectmen reviews and comments but cannot act on the School BudgetHowever, that doesn't stop them from questioning why so many expensive Chrome books.

Answer coming, we suspect, that the Common Core roll out will require specifically designed laptops for the SMARTER BALANCE TESTING event (and we will not go into why Google may be looking into data mining everyone who uses them, perhaps).

Speaking of the school budget, the Board of Ed has found yet another cut to make to reach 2.8% increase.  Story in full here:  http://www.thewestonforum.com/25590/weston-schools-reduce-budget-request-to-2-80-increase/



WESTON FORUM EDITOR ATTENDS AND REPORTS HERE:  http://www.thewestonforum.com/25720/selectmen-want-school-budget-increase-to-match-town-budget-increase/?utm_source=Weston+Forum&utm_campaign=2f90ca6709-FO_ONLINE_TODAY&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_848b12f59d-2f90ca6709-193260349


We watched on Town TV and stayed warm - see "forum" tag (r) for Editor!!!
ONE HOUR MEETING AT THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015:  "SMARTER BALANCE TEST" REQUIRED CHROMEBOOKS;  ON TO FINANCE BOARD

Density of "Chrome books" on campus greater than the number of student.  Is this correct?  Board of Education to discuss this at their next meeting (tomorrow night, I think that's what I heard).

Weston FORUM editor in attendance (r.) as everyone stands for the Pledge of Allegiance 

Board of Selectmen passes the Education budget on to Board of Finance recommending that it be reduced to a 2.5% increase, the same as the Town percentage increase.

Board of Selectmen approves First Selectman's Budget - $12,408,752, recommending a salary increase in the next budget of $8000 (to make total salary $51,875, we think):They passed along the Education Budget at $48,545, 977 since they by Charter, cannot make cuts.  Capital Budget of $1,304,558 approved; Debt Service approved $6,390,963.





REVIEW OF BUDGET...
Board of Education Chair reports @2.9% budget increase after further review and every effort made to reduce cost and plan for shrinking system. 
Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015 the Board of Selectmen reviewed of the Board of Education Budget - About Town watched from home on Channel 79.  Not the whole meeting.

WHAT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED INCREASE IN WESTON?
North of $48 million, approved by school board.  Increase of 3.17%.  Further trims by Education staff as facts developed (i.e. personnel changes) brings increase to @2.9%.

The FORUM story here:  http://www.thewestonforum.com/25021/weston-school-board-approves-budget/




FIRST SELECTMAN PRESENTS HER BUDGET TO THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN, TUESDAY,  FEBRUARY 10, 2015

FIRST SELECTMAN'S POWER POINT PRESENTATION ON THE BUDGET

Police Chief discussed possible budget impact of replacing retiring Detective.  Sparse crowd perhaps because so many capital items had to defer to Library?  The issue of Animal Control glossed over...

At the Board of Selectmen tonight, Wedgy and Lydia supported Animal Control Officer's budget increase.  The Animal Control officer was present, and noted their comments for the record.  Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the review of the Board of Education budget, which the Selectmen can only comment upon and take no action. 


TOWN AND CAPITAL BUDGETSBOTTTOM LINE LOOKS CORRECT!

THE CAPITAL BUDGET INCLUDES SCHOOL ITEMS:
First Selectman's budget:  http://www.westonct.gov/media/file/Proposed_Budget_Summary_by_Dept_and_Division%2C_First_Selectman%27s_Budget.pdf
 
Where are Capital Budget items identified?  Doesn't say online.  Which ones make up Town $790,500 and which Bd of Ed $589,058 $1,379,558 TOTAL...


Please remember that we only use online sources, which are not required to be the official recording of fact.
TOTAL TOWN/SCHOOL CAPITAL BUDGET IS INCLUDED IN THE FIRST SELECTMAN'S BUDGET...ITEMS NOT IDENTIFIED (CORRECTLY), WE THINK, HERE.


Approximately a dozen officials filled all the spaces around the table. 

Dec. 19, 2014, 2-3pm
in Town Hall
Friday at 2pm the Capital (Budget) Committee meets to preliminarily OK Capital Budget for FY'16.  Discussion of the role of a public library in the community.  And how the Capital Budget should be used to fund expenses of a capital nature. For more...including the latest numbers, click here.  And finally, after the meeting, we requested and received the latest capital budget numbers from Town and School.

Prior to establishing the actual dates for the actual process for FY'16...
Work begins on Weston’s upcoming budget

Weston FORUM
By Kimberly Donnelly on December 4, 2014

Budget request forms were sent last week to all municipal departments to begin the process of developing the 2015-16 budget...read story in full here, including general dates but also date for ATBM (April 22, 2015).
Revised BUDGET PROCESS SCHEDULE produced.






Report of Bethel School Budget, second try





School districts consider options as enrollment drops
Rob Ryser, Danbury News-Times
Updated 10:51 pm, Saturday, May 2, 2015

NEWTOWN -- As the school system approaches its turnover season -- the time of year when it discharges high school seniors and prepares for a new class of kindergartners -- it does so with more concern than perhaps any time in a generation.

Some 450 students will graduate from Newtown High School in June, but administrators expect only 235 kids to enter kindergarten in the fall...story in full:  http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/School-districts-consider-options-as-enrollment-6237472.php






Third time's a charm in Monroe: http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Monroe-Oxford-approve-budgets-6259650.php .  "I want to thank all the elected officials and volunteers who got the facts out about the budget," said First Selectman Steve Vavrek by phone Tuesday night. "It's never easy raising your own taxes." The Monroe budget was approved by 378 votes, with 1,172 for and 1,394 against the $84 million spending plan... Education officials have not yet said what cuts would be made to accommodate the new appropriation to their $56 million budget.

On the town side, $153,000 has been cut from the original proposed $84.3 million budget. Vavrek had said any new cuts would have affected staff and programs...



Monroe voters reject second budget
Keila Torres Ocasio, CTPOST
Updated 11:41 pm, Tuesday, April 28, 2015

MONROE -- For the second time this month, voters have rejected a town budget.

"It's trending like it did last year," Susan Koneff, Monroe's Democratic registrar of voters, said Tuesday night, after a revised budget was defeated by an official margin of 32 votes, 1,600 to 1,568.

First Selectman Steve Vavrek's revised 2015-16 budget was $118,000 lower than the $84.3 million spending plan rejected by just over 200 votes earlier this month.

The modified proposal cut $68,000 from the town side and $50,000 from the Board of Education. Town changes included decreases in the registrars of voters' budget, human resources insurance, data processing and land-use consulting fees. The district had not decided what would be cut from the Board of Education's $56 million budget.

Had the budget passed Tuesday, the mill rate would have risen from 31.04 to 34.36 mills...




We didn't know Milone & MacBroom knew anything about this issue!
Groton will need magnet programs to solve racial imbalance, consultant says
By Deborah Straszheim, DAY
Published March 27. 2015 9:01PM
Updated March 27. 2015 10:56PM 

Groton – Building larger elementary schools and redrawing boundaries alone will not be enough to create and maintain racial balance in Groton, a consultant told the School Facilities Initiative Task Force Thursday.

The district will also need magnet programs to draw students back and forth between neighborhoods around Carl C. Cutler and West Side middle schools, said Mike Zuba, educational consultant with Milone & MacBroom.

The finding is key because the plan to build a single middle school to replace Groton's two existing middle schools and to build two large elementary schools is intended partly to correct racial imbalance...story in full here:  http://www.theday.com/local/20150327/groton-will-need-magnet-programs-to-solve-racial-imbalance-consultant-says




Brookfield budget tries to balance tax increase, school funding
Chris Mascaro, Danbury News-Times
Updated 10:51 pm, Wednesday, March 11, 2015

BROOKFIELD -- Increasing the town budget without raising taxes would seem to be like squaring the circle.

But First Selectman Bill Tinsley believes it is possible, based on the proposal he and the Board of Selectmen sent to the Board of Finance earlier this month. The tax-neutral proposal included a 2.4 percent, or $920,000, increase in the education budget from last year, and a 0.8 percent, or $165,000, increase to the municipal budget...story in full:  http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Brookfield-budget-tries-to-balance-tax-increase-6128564.php




"Our solid financials and planning will help ensure that Westport retains its AAA bond rating."

Westport details $202.8M in spending requests
Anne M. Amato
Published 6:17 pm, Saturday, March 7, 2015
 
WESTPORT -- Municipal spending topping $202.8 million was outlined last week for the Board of Finance as town and school officials formally presented their 2015-16 budget proposals for review by the fiscal panel.

First Selectman Jim Marpe told the finance board that a property tax increase of "less than 1 percent" is the projected goal to finance the budget eventually approved for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

Marpe presented his town-side budget of $78.9 million, which represents a 2.5 percent increase, or $1.9 million, over current spending.

"From a revenue standpoint, we have a 1.5 percent increase in the Grand List," he said. "That increase, along with anticipated increases from non-tax revenues such as building permits and conveyance fees, will likely add $3.3 million to our expected revenues. Given these estimates and our conservative approach to financial reserves, our goal will be to keep any property tax increase to less than 1 percent, while maintaining appropriately conservative reserve balances."

Board of Education Chairman Michael Gordon also presented the school system's operating budget request of $111,471,756 for 2015-16, an increase of 2.08 percent over current spending.

The operating budget does not include roughly $11.9 million in debt service...story in full:  http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Westport-details-202-8M-in-spending-requests-6121182.php





East Lyme finance board sends budget to town meeting
DAY
By Kimberly Drelich
Published April 20. 2015 10:26PM
Updated April 20. 2015 10:29PM 

East Lyme — The Board of Finance voted Monday to send a proposed 2015-16 budget that is 3.12 percent more than the current budget to town meeting on May 11.

The overall proposed budget for 2015-16, including both town and education, stands at $67,145,328.

The vote kept the budget mostly as presented at a public hearing earlier in the evening, except for a small change. About 50 residents, including Board of Education members and selectmen, attended the hearing in which some residents opposed a raise in taxes, while others spoke in support of the education budget.

The education budget stands at $44,033,080, or a 2.9 percent increase, following previous cuts to the increase from the Board of Education and the Board of Finance.

"Education is not the place to look to, to make the cuts," said resident Maia Vargas.

Teachers' salaries were a common topic at the hearing, among some residents and the president of the East Lyme teachers' union. Former Superintendent James Lombardo said that East Lyme is below other schools and the area and last in its educational reference group in terms of teacher pay, which has been affecting the district in recent years.

Other residents spoke in opposition of the budget and said that that they can't afford to live in town and that the area has not yet recovered from the recession.

Karen Rak said she opposed the budget and the economic indicators show this is "not the time or the place to have an increase." She listed both national and local statistics on poverty and said the number of students on free lunches has risen over the past years.

"We've had an increase in people going into poverty, actually, in East Lyme," she said.

Other residents, such as Ron Rando, suggested that the town privatize certain departments, such as water and sewer, and that the school district regionalize.

At the special Board of Finance meeting following the hearing, the Board of Finance reduced the amount of fund balance it will use to offset the increase in taxes by $100,000.

The board also cut the money to be spent on unspecified town projects by $25,000.

Board member Beth Hogan said she would be in favor of allocating an additional $100,000 to the budget, if the school district would use it to end "the narrative" of low teacher pay in East Lyme.

Some Board of Finance members said they could not dictate to the school district how they would spend the funds, but the school board could later come up with a plan and ask the Board of Finance for additional funds.

Board of Finance Chairman Stephen Harney said it's on ongoing conversation...story in full:  http://www.theday.com/local/20150420/east-lyme-finance-board-sends-budget-to-town-meeting



East Lyme selectmen approve 4.79 percent budget hike
By Kimberly Drelich, The DAY
Published March 05. 2015 4:00AM

East Lyme - The Board of Selectmen voted Wednesday to approve a $68,231,326 overall budget for 2015-16.

The budget, which constitutes a 4.79 percent increase over the current budget, will next proceed to the Board of Finance.

The spending plan includes $16,819,937 for general government, or a 4.3 percent increase. Debt service stands at $5.317 million, or 4.16 percent more than this year. The capital budget is $1,290,996, or about 18 percent more than the current budget.

The selectmen also passed along the superintendent's proposed education budget of $44,802,787, representing a 4.7 percent increase, which the Board of Education has not yet voted on. The selectmen commented that they have not yet seen the education budget.

They also approved about $102,000 in reductions from the first selectman's proposed budget. The selectmen have been deliberating on the budget since last month.

In discussions on Wednesday, selectmen stressed that the budget increases were driven by mandates or factors over which they have no control, such as energy costs and increases in wages, health benefits and pension contributions...story in full:  http://www.theday.com/local/20150305/east-lyme-selectmen-approve-479-percent-budget-hike







Story in full:  http://www.theday.com/article/20150213/NWS01/150219880/1018



Did Weston's First Selectman vote "yes" on this?  NEW exec. director from West Virginia Correctional System
CCM press release against property tax:  http://advocacy.ccm-ct.org/Resources.ashx?id=98358dd8-6716-47c8-85fd-77b59b4301b6

Council of Municipalities makes plea for distressed areas
The Day
By Colin A. Young
Published February 12. 2015 4:00AM:

New London - As a new legislative session begins and the General Assembly gets to work, the Connecticut Council of Municipalities has issued its wish list of legislative actions that it says would address the "urgent needs" of urban centers like New London...story in full:  http://www.theday.com/local/20150212/council-of-municipalities-makes-plea-for-distressed-areas





Story in full:  http://ctmirror.org/2015/02/10/state-aiming-to-hobble-school-funding-lawsuit/






What is MBR and why does this enter into discussions of municpal
budgets?

It presumes that school budgets should not be cut on a whim of a local government.  Whether a Town Meeting as in Weston's case, or a Town Council or RTM or whatever.  And have you heard about this proposed bill that has had its public hearing and awaits action by the Planning and Development Committee?  The latest here.




ATTACK ON THE PROPERTY TAX BASE OF TOWNS
"Speak Up" - with answers.  The official "picture story" and video. 



Story in full:  http://ctmirror.org/2015/02/10/looney-glaring-car-tax-disparities-must-be-closed/






Redding proposes education budget cuts
Chris Mascaro, Danbury News-Times
Updated 10:07 pm, Monday, April 20, 2015

REDDING -- Emptier school buildings will likely mean emptier pockets for Redding Elementary and John Read Middle School.

The Board of Education initially proposed no increase in its budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year, but the town finance board approved a year-to-year decrease of $96,500, citing the district's declining enrollment...story in full:  http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Redding-proposes-education-budget-cuts-6212126.php



Parents oppose busing plan for Redding, Easton schools
Nelson Oliveira, Danbury News-Times
Published 8:08 pm, Wednesday, January 28, 2015

REDDING -- A proposal to implement a new busing system in the Redding and Easton school districts has stirred strong opposition from a group of parents.

An online petition launched this month is calling for Bernard Josefsberg, superintendent of Easton, Redding and Region 9 school districts, to drop the two-tier busing plan as some parents worry about an unwelcome change in family routines and an increased risk of bullying among children of different ages...Danbury News-Times story in full:  http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Parents-oppose-busing-plan-for-Redding-Easton-6046955.php





Referendum support would revamp Ledyard schools
Publication: The Day
By Kelly Catalfamo
Published January 03. 2015 4:00AM

Ledyard - Major changes could be coming to the town's school system if residents vote in favor of a $65.8 million project at a referendum later this month.

The school renovation proposal - approved by the Town Council and up for a vote on Jan. 20 - would update aging facilities with significant state reimbursement, leaving the town to cover only some $24 million of the project's total cost. But the upgrades, said Superintendent Cathy Patterson, will also improve education for the affected students...story in full:  http://www.theday.com/local/20150103/referendum-support-could-revamp-ledyard-schools



Preston moving ahead with preschool expansion

Publication: The Day
By Claire Bessette
Published December 27. 2014 4:00AM 

Preston - Board of Education approval and funding are in place and a classroom is available to expand preschool at the Preston Veterans' Memorial School starting Jan. 21 - now all that is needed is a teacher and students to fill the room.

The Preston Board of Education gave final approval Dec. 8 to a controversial plan to launch universal preschool using special education savings in the current school budget. That vote was an affirmation of an earlier November vote by the board that drew criticism for lack of public comment on the proposal prior to its approval...story in full:  http://www.theday.com/local/20141227/preston-moving-ahead-on-preschool-proposal



Stonington voters overwhelmingly approve $69 million school building project
By Joe Wojtas, DAY
Published April 21. 2015 9:51PM
Updated April 21. 2015 10:46PM

Stonington — Voters here overwhelmingly approved the most expensive municipal building project in town history — a $69 million renovation and expansion of Deans Mill and West Vine Streets schools — on Tuesday by a ratio of 3-1.

The vote was 1,496 to 451 with 16 percent of the town’s 12,449 registered voters casting ballots.

“Today is huge for this town. It brings balance and equity to the two sides of town in a meaningful way,” said Rob Marseglia, the chairman of the K-12 School Building Committee, which worked 18 months to develop the plan.

Marseglia admitted after the results were announced in Town Hall that the outcome was a huge relief. Asked about the strong support for the project, Marseglia said “We put together a good project that make sense for the town...”  Story in full:  http://www.theday.com/local/20150421/stonington-voters-overwhelmingly-approve-69-million-school-building-project



Forum to narrow options for aging Stonington schools

Publication: The Day
By Joe Wojtas
Published December 28. 2014 4:00AM

Stonington - After two public forums and years of discussion by town and school officials, the proposed options for upgrading the town's aging elementary schools and their costs are expected to be revealed at a Jan. 27 public forum.

The forum will most likely be held at 7 p.m. in the high school commons.

K-12 School Building Committee Chairman Rob Marseglia said Wednesday that "depending on land development costs, building costs, and operating cost savings when buildings are eliminated" the architectural firm that designed the options may be able "to recommend one option that is right for Stonington."

But he added the cost of such an option "would have to be significantly better than other options" for Drummey, Rosane, Anderson Inc., to recommend one option at this time...story in full:  http://www.theday.com/local/20141228/forum-to-narrow-options-for-aging-schools




Litchfield schools float merger idea with Region 12
Susan Tuz, Danbury News-Times
Published 1:11 pm, Friday, December 26, 2014

Story in full:  http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Litchfield-schools-float-merger-idea-with-Region-5979838.php


Stamford tax rate to jump 2.87 percent
Alex Gecan, Stamford ADVOCATE
Updated 8:45 pm, Tuesday, May 19, 2015

STAMFORD -- City spending is locked in for next year, and property taxes will jump 2.87 percent.

The Board of Finance fixed the property tax rates for the next fiscal year at a special meeting Monday. The new average mill rate -- the dollar amount that residents must pay per $1000 worth of property -- is 25.11, a seven-tenths-of-a-mill increase.

Residents pay different tax rates based on which municipal services -- paid or volunteer fire service, sanitation and so on -- that they use.

So, for example, if you own $100,000 worth of property, you will owe the city $2,511 in taxes in the coming year...story in full:  http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Stamford-tax-rate-to-jump-2-87-percent-6274019.php



What is the percent of debt service in Weston proposed for FY'16?
Well, about the same as Stamford - 10% - the link above is to the Town side of the budget in Weston ($20million) School side is $47million more...


Stamford schools protest proposed budget cuts:  Teaching and paraeducator positions at risk, superintendent claims
Evan Simko-Bednarski, Stamford ADVOCATE
Updated 10:09 pm, Wednesday, April 15, 2015

STAMFORD -- The Board of Finance's decision to grant $3 million less than the schools' requested budget increase could mean fewer teachers and more kids in each classroom, according to Superintendent Winifred Hamilton...story in full:  http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Stamford-schools-protest-proposed-budget-cuts-6202459.php




Angela Carella: Can taxpayers bear weight of big salaries?

Stamford ADVOCATE
Updated 10:25 pm, Saturday, April 4, 2015
Stamford’s municipal payroll

The annual cost to run Stamford is about half a billion dollars, and each spring city officials work out the budget for the coming fiscal year.

For Stamford residents it means that, on July 1, taxes will go up.

It's just a question of how much.

Each year taxpayers ask the same thing: Where does the money go?

In the current budget, 49 percent went to the Board of Education, 41 percent went to city departments and 10 percent was used to cover debt. The numbers come from the mayor's office...story in full:  http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Angela-Carella-Can-taxpayers-bear-weight-of-big-6179594.php



Stamford schools chief wants 3.9 percent bigger budget;  Teacher salaries and benefits make up largest increases
Stamford ADVOCATE
Evan Simko-Bednarski
Updated 8:28 pm, Wednesday, January 14, 2015

STAMFORD -- It will cost $258 million to run the Stamford Public Schools next year, according to the budget Superintendent Winifred Hamilton made to the school board Tuesday.

If approved, that would be a 3.9 percent increase over the current year.

The Board of Education's budget is the single largest component of Stamford's municipal spending...story in full:  http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Stamford-schools-chief-wants-3-9-percent-bigger-6015957.php




2% increase
approved by Greenwich Board of Education report

Greenwich TIME:  http://blog.ctnews.com/realtime/2014/12/19/greenwich-board-of-ed-approves-147m-budget-backs-coaching-cuts/