By James Lomuscio
As expected, Westport’s Board of Finance (BOF) tonight unanimously approved the Board of Education’s proposed $112.6 million operating budget for 2016-17, a 1.29 percent increase over the current year.
Touted as the second lowest school board increase in a more than a decade, the budget approval came with a vote of confidence that the school board was on track as much as possible toward toward the finance board’s “zero-based budget” philosophy.
“I think the result is going to be good for Westport,” said Brian Stern, finance board chairman, adding that it would keep taxes in check while funding “excellent town services.”
The Board of Finance also voted unanimously on the overall town budget, $204,039,595, a 0.97 percent increase. It comprises the schools’s and the $91.6 million municipal one, a .79 percent increase, that the finance board approved Tuesday night.
The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) will act on the budgets in May with the BOF setting the mill rate later in the month.
“We’re proud that we could come in at a 1.29 percent increase over last year’s budget, the second lowest increase in at least 10 years,” said Gordon.
“More importantly, we were able to do that while adding seven new courses to the high school, increasing our commitment to science in the elementary schools and enhancing the security at Staples.
“This academically-innovative, fiscally-lean budget is a huge credit to the tremendous staff of the Westport schools,” he added. “We on the board just represent their smart, hard work.”
Prior to the vote, Stern said that keeping taxes check while providing excellent education would draw more people to town, even those from neighboring communities.
Gordon credited Elio Longo, school business administrator, for finding cuts that totaled $847,161 from the $113.45 million, or 2.05 percent increase, that the schools presented to the finance board two weeks ago.
He referred to Longo as “a super hero.”
Michael Rea, finance board vice chairman, took it a step further, calling Longo “Houdini in my book” for his due diligence.
“This is masterful,” Rea said of the budget. “…It’s a new day for the Board of Education.”
He also said that zero-based budgeting “has to be a way of living, a continual never ending process.”
Rea also gave a shout of to Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon, who is retiring in June after 17 years. This was Landon’s last budget.
“He has brought our schools to the pinnacle,” he said, referring to Landon as “the good doctor.”
“You’ve navigated the ship and taken good care of the kids.”
