A discussion about school finances tonight showed varied opinions on the value of keeping taxes low or spending enough to keep up the quality of Westport’s schools.
Members of Westport’s Board of Finance traveled to Staples High School to meet with Board of Education members about the 2010-2011 education and town budget.
The session came a month after municipal elections that saw one new member elected to each board
Board of Education Chairman Donald O’Day set the tone for the discussion by saying “keeping things the same will mean a $2.5 million increase.”
But he said even if enrollments stayed the same, and the number of teachers and staff remained the same, there undoubtedly will be other unavoidable charges that will require even more spending.
“We need to be as aggressive as we can to cut expenses,” said Board of Finance member Charles Haberstroh, who attended the meeting via computer from Brazil where he is on business.
“I see this as a multi-year problem,” said his colleague Ken Wirfel. He said next year’s revaluation could compound problems by shifting more of the tax burden on residential taxpayers from commercial ones.
Another Board of Finance member, Avi Kaner, said he would be more comfortable voting for the education budget if the educators presented benchmarks comparing Westport spending to comparable communities in the area.
Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said Westport spending was “about in the middle of our neighbors” but added that was not the full story.
“Staples High School is the best in Fairfield County,” he said. “We provide services to our students that few others in the country, much less Fairfield County, offer.”
Landon said this “really does count” and that “people in these tough economic times know that the value of their properties is affected less than elsewhere.”
The superintendent added, “We have developed a fiscally responsible way of doing business.”
O’Day said his board will present a budget as advocates of the schools, adding, “As I said, we get it.”
He repeatedly pressed Board of Finance members for specific guidance, asking whether they were intent on keeping taxes flat or raising taxes enough to cover decreased revenues even with no increase in budgets.
“Finding $2.5 million won’t be easy,” O’Day said. “It’s a big number.”
Board of Finance Chairman Helen Garten, newly elected to her post last week, told O’Day, “In terms of guidance, if you can try to come in without an increase, that would be a prudent course at the moment.”
“We have to make fundamental changes in how we do business,” said Haberstroh.
O’Day and other Board of Education members warned that they cannot deliver the quality services if they pare budgets.
They said the risk of “going from great to good” has financial implications for the town. If property values are impacted negatively, this will impact the town’s ability to gain access to ample tax revenues, they argued.
Michael McGovern, a new member of the Board of Education, noted that “Westport is an expensive place to live, but it’s not expensive to live because of the taxes or because of the schools.
“I think if you look at our mill rate in terms of affordability of living in Westport from a tax perspective, it is a fairly affordable town to live in compared to others.” (Editor’s note: expands quote from an earlier version.)
He ventured that if it cost each homeowner $100 more a year in taxes to provide $1 million in increased educational funding, he was sure they would say “here’s the $100.”
Brian Stern, a new member of the Board of Finance, said, “Our role is to determine what is affordable for the Town of Westport.” But at the same time he said his board “could not torpedo” what Westport has already achieved.
Several parents echoed those who said paring the education budget drastically to keep taxes flat or low was not in Westport’s best interests.
“The school system is not a corporation,” said one, adding that cutting quality will hurt more than raising taxes.
“Our schools have taken hits this year, especially Staples,” said PTA leader April Book.
She promised elected officials of both boards that “you will hear from constituents” about the need to keep up educational spending.
“More cuts will do more damage,” she said.
Actually I said I HOPE that the elected officials at the meeting will hear from their constituents regarding this year’s budget. The cuts imposed last year are having impacts on our schools and additional cuts this year will only compound the negative effects.
Many of us are hurting in the current economic environment, but I believe it is nevertheless our paramount civic responsibility to future generations to provide the best possible education for all children. To those without children in public school who are concerned primarily with what’s in it for them I suggest that the value of our Westport real estate is critically connected to the high quality of our public schools.
Nina Streitfeld
Nicely said!!
The school system should get what they need to run a first class educational system. However the flip side is, that the B.O.E should be held accountable to the Town’s tax payers that they are getting the most efficient use of the funds possible from the school system.
Tom Bloch
My family is considering moving to Westport with the reason almost exclusively based on our belief that the school system is superior. While I am aware of the difficulties that towns across the nation are facing, I find it troubling that a community like Westport would even question whether or not it should fully fund its schools. There are nearly 9600 households in Westport. Would a $250 increase in property taxes really be a deal breaker? I will be watching how this unfolds and it will be a factor in my decision, as I view it as a clear indicator of this community’s commitment to education.
<b> Jesse Gutkowski </b>
I was misquoted in this article. I said that Westport is an expensive place to live, but what makes it expensive is not our taxes, and not our schools. Our mil rate is one of the lowest in the state of Connecticut, and our schools are among the very best.
Michael McGovern
Member, Westport Board of Education
<b>Editor’s note: </b>: While Mr. McGovern claims he was “misquoted,” a review of a recording of the meeting shows the story quoted him accurately but did not include his full quote.
His full quote as transcribed from the recording was:
“Westport is an expensive place to live, but it