Florio Proposes 3.86 Percent Budget Increase
January 14, 2010 by John Rook
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Greg Florio invoked a line from one of Charles Dickens’ classic novels before beginning his budget proposal presentation last Thursday.
“These are definitely the worst of times,” Florio told about 50 spectators, packed into Council Chambers at Town Hall, on Jan. 7, a reference to the first line in Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. With that ominous pronouncement, Florio presented what he described as a “lean” budget that calls for almost no increase in spending aside from salary and benefit accounts.
Florio’s budget, revealed during the business meeting of the Board of Education last week, calls for a 3.86 percent increase in school district spending for the 2010/11 year, which would, if approved, raise the district’s overall budget to $61.7 million. That number would represent approximately $2.3 million in new spending.
The budget does not call for any of the nearly 17 teaching positions eliminated last year to be restored, nor does it replenish any accounts, such as supplies, equipment, or materials, that were cut in 2009/10.
Rather, the 3.86 percent increase is almost completely dedicated to employee salary and benefit accounts, certain district service accounts, and special education, all considered to be “fixed” by administrators.
In fact, Florio insisted that, aside from those fixed accounts, all other areas in the budget would only see an increase of $23,000 combined.
“This budget will basically support current obligations going forward,” said Florio. “My focus is the cost required to maintain the current level of service.”
The largest increase under the proposal is in the teacher salary account, which would see a little over $1 million up tick from last year, bringing the total spent to $32.2 million. Employee benefits would also see a significant rise with Florio requesting an 8.2 percent increase, or $729,402 in new spending.
In October of 2008, the Cheshire Education Association and the Board of Education agreed to a new, three-year deal that promised educators an average salary increase of 4.4 percent. The economic climate worsened throughout the fall and winter of 2008 and, by the time budget talks began in 2009, many in town were asking that the union agree to certain concessions to help mitigate costs.
However, talks between the union and school administrators did not produce an agreement and no changes were made to the contract.
During his presentation, Florio mentioned that talks between administrators and employee unions were “ongoing” and that his budget had not “factored in any adjustments that might be made.”
“I look forward to continuing talks with the teacher union representative,” said Florio.
The Board will now spend the next two weeks discussing Florio’s proposal and will decide whether to recommend additional cuts before sending a final budget to Town Manager Michael Milone for review. While Florio expressed his fervent desire that the Board and, ultimately, Milone and the Town Council, support his recommendations, he acknowledged that changes would most likely be made throughout the budget process. However, the superintendent warned that there were “not a lot of options where I could consider making adjustments,” and intimated that staffing and program cuts would most likely have to be made in the event of further reductions.
“There are no easy answers if we want to make reductions going forward,” said Florio. “Knowing this budget as I do, the options available are ones that I do not want to bring up.”
Music programs, electives offered at Cheshire High School, and the academically gifted programs could all be on the chopping block, Florio suggested, along with additional teacher positions.
And, while the news for this budget seemed dim, the outlook for the future is equally perilous, Florio acknowledged. Currently, Cheshire is receiving federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which is funneled to the Town through IDEA grants and education cost sharing (ECS). The money is supposed to be good for 2010 and 2011, but come 2012 Florio stated that the funds could be stopped, which would mean Cheshire would be left potentially with a $1.8 million shortfall.
“I am not only concerned about 2012,” admitted Florio. “There are no guarantees for 2011.”
Towards the end of his presentation, Florio once again reminded residents that Cheshire is routinely considered one of the most efficient school districts in the state. In 2009, out of 166 districts in Connecticut, Cheshire ranked 136 in per pupil expenditures. In fact, Florio insisted that, if one were to take the average of the last three years, Cheshire ranked 141 out of 166.
“Cheshire schools are efficient and productive,” said Florio. “It shows we are lean and effective.”
“It also means there is little room to reduce without impacting quality,” he continued.
Board Chairman Gerry Brittingham thanked Florio for his efforts in formulating the budget and acknowledged that the Board had a lot of hard work ahead. However, Brittingham insisted that the same “American spirit” that has helped generations handle difficult problems in the past would assist Cheshire.
“Our best comes out in the worst of times. That is the great thing about our country,” he stated.