Education budget down for 2009-10

FALLS VILLAGE — Representatives of the Board of Education and the Lee H. Kellogg School made their initial budget presentation to the Board of Finance on March 9.

The bottom-line figure for the elementary school is $1,714,351, a decrease of 2.1 percent. And with the town’s share of the Region One budget increasing to $986,990, the final education expenditure for Falls Village in 2009-10 will be $2,701,341, down one-tenth of a percent.

Board of Education Chairman Andrea Downs said in introducing the budget, “We worked very hard to have no increase in these difficult economic times. 

“Not knowing what is coming, we thought it important to come up with a conservative budget.�

One big change is in transportation. The school will eliminate one bus route (out of three) next year. “We might have to add it back,� said Downs. “But we took the savings now. We also met with the parents and the bus company.�

There is a change in the bus contract; towns no longer have their own bus contracts but now share in one regional transportation contract.

Finance member Louis Timolat tried to pin down a dollar figure to represent savings, but the comparison broke down somewhat as Downs and Principal Maria Bulson explained the complexities of the new arrangement.

The overall transportation line dropped from $127,686 to $94,411, a difference of $33,275 or 26.1 percent.

Savings in electricity use at the school were easier to spot. Even though delivery rates are up, the school is using significantly less electricity, resulting in a projected savings of $1,378.

Timolat asked for clarification of the duties of board clerk, a 10-hour position. Downs replied that the board clerk does payroll, accounts payable and all accounting for the Board of Education. She also tracks down and reconciles invoices, purchase orders, packing slips and the like and handles the retirement accounts.

Downs explained that these tasks used to be done in-house and then sent to the Region One business manager for review — for a fee.

“We’re much happier now,� said Downs. “It’s much more streamlined.�

“Is it $9,000 worth of improvement?� asked Timolat.

“Yes,� replied Downs. “We had errors that cost money to fix before.�

The school’s health insurance costs didn’t change much, largely due to a faculty member with a family policy who switched to her spouse’s policy. That teacher still collects a $2,000 health insurance stipend as per contract, which irritated finance member George Elling. 

“That idea rubs me the wrong way,� he said.

Using rough figures, board alternate Tracey Atwood  came up with a per-pupil cost of about $19,000. Downs conceded that it is a high figure, roughly double the state average and one of the highest in the state, but added, “We’re often compared to Union, Conn. [population 693 in the 2000 census]; but look at their school’s Web site. We offer a much more comprehensive education.â€�

Town Treasurer Linda Paviol’s report was brief. “Are we on track?’ asked Timolat.

“Yes,� said Paviol.

Elling made a suggestion that $200,000 of town funds be placed in a pair of CDs as a hedge against financial volatility. Paviol said she believes the town’s money is more than adequately protected by the negotiated pledge agreements with the banks, but said it could be done without too much trouble. 

Elling then made a motion but found no takers. The motion was not even seconded.

First Selectman Pat Mechare, suffering from laryngitis, made a quick report. She said the last piece of paper regarding a $17,000 payment for the federally funded Johnson Road project has been signed and sent on its way.

She is still waiting for the attorney representing the Falls Village Children’s Theater to submit a contract proposal.

“Have we spent any money trying to give money away?� asked Timolat, getting a negative shake of the head from the hoarse Mechare in reply.

There will be a special meeting of the Board of Finance to receive the selectmen’s budget Monday, March 30, 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

Note: During the finance meeting, Mechare kept getting bulletins from crews working to solve the water problems that threatened to shut down the Lee Kellogg School Tuesday. During the Board of Education presentation Mechare announced the water was back on at the school, and said, “They don’t know where the leak is, but they know where it isn’t.�

And as the finance board adjourned and made way for the selectmen, the sound of water returning to the pipes was audible from the bathroom in Town Hall.