Council Reduces Proposed Education Budget by $300K For Third Referendum

When Newtown voters took to the polls last week, 52 people made the difference in holding back the education budget for another round. Now the Legislative Council has trimmed an extra $300,000 from the proposed budget increase in anticipation of the third vote, scheduled for June 4. Some members said they hoped it would be enough to allow the budget to pass.

"We passionately understand the challenges you'll face in the coming year," Legislative Council chair Jeff Capeci told school officials Wednesday night. "The problem is getting the people out there to pass the budget. I think a $300,000 [reduction] is the right one at this juncture. I'll work to make a pledge to get this budget passed."

The council voted in favor of the $300,000 reduction, opting against an alternative: a $150,000 cut, proposed as an amendment by council member Mary Ann Jacob.

"I've said from the beginning we need to make a leap of faith this year, and I think we as a community need to say education is important to us -- not just this year, but always," she said. "The events of 12/14 have shown us we're going to have extra costs."

Jacob, Paul Lundquist and Daniel Honan voted in favor of the lesser cut, as well as a $200,000 cut proposed by Lundquist after the first was defeated. First Selectman Pat Llodra, an ex officio part of the council, was among those asking voting members of the council to consider a smaller cut.

"We need our community to have confidence in our future," she said. "The school budget is more than crunching numbers ... Make a modest reduction, and let's try to sell this to the community."

Dr. John Reed told the council many planned new positions for 2013-14 would be scrapped due to previous cuts, and said at this time he "did not know how" a hoped-for full-day kindergarten program would be funded. But he said he would work with officials.

"I certainly believe when you lose a referendum, cuts follow," he said. "I'm here to work cooperatively with you."

The new proposed Board of Education budget represents a 3.93% increase, according to town finance director Bob Tait, down from a 4.37% increase. On June 4, voters will have a chance to approve or reject an education budget of $71,045,304, with an adjusted mill rate of 33.32.