$219.1 Million West Hartford Budget - They've GOT To be Joking

The Courant reported that

A proposed $219.1 million budget that officials say reflects the anemic reality of recession was given to the town council Tuesday night for review.

If adopted as submitted by Town Manager Ronald Van Winkle, the 2010-11 budget would require a 3.6 percent hike in the tax rate to 38.91 mills, effective July 1. Town officials who put together the proposal said the money sought will allow the town to continue essential services, meet contractual obligations and maintain property, without any new services or programs.

-and-

The proposal eliminates 27 school and five town government positions to hold down expenses.

Most likely those "eliminated positions" were not going to be filled anyway - so where are the real cuts? What about all those "teachers" on the payroll who do not really "teach" any classes? And what about all those classes that have less than 12 students in them?

A 3.6% tax rate increase in this economy? Are they serious? What part of global recession and unemployment do they not get? With 7% unemployment rate in West Hartford alone, do they seriously think this isn't going to go down in flames? Did anyone in town get a 3.6% raise (that is, if they are still working).

You better believe they will be analyzing portions of this budget in the coming weeks until April adoption!

The Courant went on to say:

Mayor Scott Slifka said the council and the school board will be checking the proposals in meetings and will seek public comment in hearings next month.

"People can attend the subcommittee meetings to discuss the proposal, go to the hearings, send us e-mails, call or write us," Slifka said. Council hearings on the proposal are scheduled for April 6 at 2 p.m. and April 8 at 6 p.m. in town hall.

The town council is scheduled to adopt a final budget in late April and set a tax rate.

Van Winkle said the proposed budget continues a town hiring freeze, travel restrictions and other steps imposed a year ago to contain costs as the recession deepened.

The school portion of the proposal is $121.92 million, up $4.2 million from the current education budget. The town government portion is $65.8 million, up $1.29 million for the current budget.

The long-term liability portion — for town and school pensions, retiree health care and capital financing — is $31.4 million, up $3.22 million.

The plan seeks $8.73 million more than the current $212.5 million budget. Most of the increase is sought to make up for decreased investment, state aid and other non-tax revenues and to cover increased wage, pension and health costs.

The school portion of the budget is 56% of the total.
The Teachers Union and the Board of Education once again refuse to help the town's financial situation.
The Board of Education can easily eliminate millions of dollars of waste and duplication in their programs, if they would only listen to ideas already being offered by people in the community - but they are steadfastly refusing.

They believe West Hartford taxpayers have more money stashed under their mattresses.

It's going to be one helluva Budget Season here in West Hartford.

4.37% Increase: $126.7 Million Requested For West Hartford School Budget

The town council is planning to draft its version of the budget for March 9, followed by a combined passage of the board’s and town’s budget on April 27. In the meantime, budget wrangling has begun in earnest.

From West Hartford News

After a zero percent increase to the Board of Education’s budget last year, rising medical liabilities and pension costs for retired employees are the major driving factors for a proposed budget that contains a $5.31 million increase for the 2010-11 school year.

The budget’s 4.37 percent increase is what Superintendent Karen List proposed to the Board of Education on March 2. The total budget proposal is $126.7 million.

Over $1.6 million has been slashed from the budget to keep from a roll-forward budget increase of 5.72 percent. Under List’s proposed budget, which is currently under review by the board, 27 positions are projected to be dropped next year. Eleven of the cuts to full-time employees will come at the hands of the school board eliminating the World Language Program at 10 out of 11 of the town’s elementary schools. The program began during the 2000-01 school year and will still remain at the Charter Oak International Academy.

The board is also eliminating two administrative and two non-instructional positions while consolidating its AIMS program — a program for non-special education students who need a smaller and more focused setting -- to Sedgwick Middle School.

Reductions to the budget also include putting on freeze on school supplies, saving a projected $141,000.

West Hartford School Superintendent, Dr. List, claims this is a budget that maintains the "core" and preserves services that are seen as important ... like full-day kindergarten, small class size, and solid arts and physical education programs.

The school system is receiving federal stimulus money through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to the tune of $3.791 million for the 2010-11 school year which is fine for us for now, but what will happen next budget cycle (2011-12 budget) when that money disappears? It doesn't look as if the Board of Education is living in reality if they aren't already preparing in this year's budget (2010-11) for that gaping hole by reducing expenditures even further. We could be looking at an enormous tax increase if these people don't get their arms around a true austerity budget this time around.

West Hartford taxpayers just might be getting their referendum petitions printed up already. In one of the worst economic periods, with a national unemployment rate* of 9.7% (February), and West Hartford's unemployment rate at about 7%, it is incredulous that the Board of Education would even consider increasing their budget and asking for more money from the Town Council. Where do they think West Hartford taxpayers will come up with this money? Especially in this economy? (* - Many claim this number to be very much under-stated as it does not include many others who are unemployed and not collecting benefits as well as those who are underemployed, the number could be more like 17%)

No one is looking to "gut the system", but when the federal government is broke and the state is broke, and the taxpayers are trying to figure out how to pay for their own home budgets, it is high time that the West Hartford Board of Education deal very very seriously with eliminating programs that are "nice to have" but not necessary, along with truly streamlining programs and reducing duplication of work.

The Town Council may have to be the adult in the room (again) and steadfastly decide to give this Board of Education exactly what they got last year - no more - no less, and if Dr. List is the superstar that everyone claims that she is, then she, with her Board of Education and her oft touted talented staff, will be able to make that number work.