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The Westport Board of Finance voted unanimously tonight to cut $1 million from the proposed 2006-07 school budget, but members said the cut should not come from educational programs.
Instead, finance board members said the money should be taken from the school system’s insurance fund.
School officials will have a final opportunity to ask for some or all of the money be restored before the Board of Finance makes its final budget recommendation on April 5.
The finance board reviewed all of the town’s budgets tonight, but only made changes to the school board’s budget.
The changes mean the 2006-07 school budget would be $82 million if the Representative Town Meeting gives its final approval in May. It is a 4.3 percent increase over the current budget of $78.6 million.
R. Gavin Anderson, the finance board member who proposed the cut, said cutting $1 million from the insurance fund would mean there is still an extra $1 million in the account.
“Even in the worst case scenario (with insurance), you’re left with enough money in reserve,” said Jeffrey Mayer, finance board chairman.
The amount cut, however, was more than what school officials had wanted at $600,000.
Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon said he is fearful of ending up in a situation like in other communities where insurance was cut so much it eroded educational programs.
“They were reducing their art and music programs because they couldn’t afford that and the increases in insurance,” he said.
School officials have had three extraordinary years of experience with insurance, he said, but that won’t last forever.
