Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon has presented the Board of Education with a proposed 2006-07 school budget that carries a 5.4 percent increase over the current budget.
Elliott Landon: budget “reflects a judicious approach.” WN photo
The budget proposal was sent to board members Friday, and the cover letter was included in the board meeting agenda documents provided to the public. Last February, the board approved a $79.5 million budget which was a 6.5 percent increase over the previous year.
“This budget reflects a judicious approach to maintaining the high quality of education that the residents of Westport have demanded of their schools,” Landon wrote in the letter. “The budget incorporates our desire to provide our students with optimal educational experiences, but does so in a fiscally prudent manner.”
The letter states that .9 percent of the budget increase is attributed to enrollment growth and changes to the program.
The remainder is “dedicated only to maintaining the current level of services,” Landon wrote.
Landon wrote he does not plan to hire new administrators, custodians, maintenance workers and secretaries, and teachers will be hired based on enrollment needs.
There were also dramatic increases in heating fuel and electricity costs, he wrote.
The school board will begin discussing the proposal during its meeting on Monday at 8 p.m. in Bedford Middle School.
An all-day budget workshop will be held Friday at 9 a.m. at the Westport Library.
—Jennifer Connic
