By James Lomuscio
Westport’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM) tonight unanimously approved the Board of Education’s $100.38 million budget for 2012-13, a final approval that came with plaudits for submitting a flat budget while maintaining a top school system.
Board of Education Chair Don O’Day addresses the Representative Town Meeting tonight. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
In addition to approving the school budget submitted by the Board of Finance, the RTM also unanimously set the overall town budget—including the municipal government’s $87.81 million budget unanimously approved Monday night—at $188,201,587.
The last stop in the budget process, the RTM’s unanimous nod to the schools seemed a fait accompli following ringing endorsements from Velma Heller, who heads the legislative body’s education committee, as well as from Allen S. Bomes of the RTM’s finance committee.
Bomes said his only suggestion was for the school board to consider raising revenue through the rental of school facilities, rentals that would not conflict with school activities.
“Revenue enhancement should be considered by the Board of Education,” he said. “We feel with eight schools available, more can be done in this area …in order to bring in additional revenue.”
Heller had nothing but praise for the school budget submitted, a 2.17 percent increase over the current year.
“As we watched the process throughout, it became clear to us that there was a thoughtful decision making process going on,” she said.
She also lauded the school board for “being pretty proactive in collaborating with other town bodies,” sharing certain services to keep costs down.
RTM member Louis Mall echoed that “this is a very fiscally sound school budget.” He also challenged the school board to find a way to avoid spending $250,000 per year on rental space to park school buses, a cost savings he said could have avoided a $200,000 secretarial cut that “pains me.”
In other matters, the RTM unanimously approved four pay periods for real estate property taxes, July 1, Oct. 1, Jan. 1 and April 1. It also unanimously approved that motor vehicle taxes be paid in a single installment.
