By James Lomuscio
With comments describing Westport’s school system as the town’s crown jewel, the Board of Finance tonight unanimously approved the Board of Education’s proposed $104 million operating budget for 2013-14.
Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon and Board of Education Chair Elaine Whitney address the Board of Finance tonight. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Board of Finance Chair Avi Kaner said if no further changes are made in the approved school and town budget of almost $193 million by the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) in May, Westport taxpayers could see a less than 2 percent tax increase.
“I’d like to congratulate both the town and the schools for preparing responsible and reasonable budgets,” he said, adding: “My goal, and that of others on the Board of Finance, will be to limit any increase in the mill rate to under 2 percent—below last year’s CPI (consumer price index) increase.”
Finance board member Michael Rea had initially suggested trimming the education budget by $250,000 to encourage the school board to outsource and consolidate services with town government. But after hearing support for the full amount from other finance board members, Rea withdrew his motion and made a new one to approve the $104 million.
Finance board member Brian Stern said that while he agreed with Rea’s initial suggestion in principle, he had trust in the way the school board would go about making educational decisions.
“What we ought to do is to trust Elaine (School Board Chairwoman Elaine Whitney) and her board to make good educational decisions,” Stern said, adding that if the school system did not use all of the funds there would be a give back to the town.
Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon stressed that the Board of Education had already cut more than $1 million from his proposed budget and that the budget before the finance board was already lean.
“What we have done is really bare bones,” Landon said. “We are very, very cautious how we spend.”
According to Whitney, the bulk of the $104 million is for contractual salary and benefits obligations.
In addition to the operating budget, the finance board also unanimously approved $316,794 for aid to parochial and private schools, as well as $12.69 million for debt service, making the total education budget $117,382,406.
The Board of Finance approval of the combined town and education budget of $192.77 million represents a 2.4 percent total increase. The finance board reduced the town budget by $83,000 on Tuesday.
“This (total) budget fully funds our OPEB (other post employment benefits) and pension obligations,” Kaner pointed out. In addition to praising the submitted school and town budgets, he said the Westport school system represented the town’s crown jewel revered not only nationally and internationally.
“Our budget strongly supports the Westport school system, which will remain a vibrant example of excellence across the country and the world,” he said.
Finance board member Helen Garten chimed in that “special thanks should go to Elliott and (First Selectman) Gordon Joseloff.”
“They did all the heavy lifting,” she said.
