At Sharon’s Board of Finance Budget Meeting last week, more than half the time allotted for discussion was devoted to the Connecticut statute everyone loves to hate, Minimum Budget Requirement, or MBR.

First established by the Connecticut General Assembly in 1975, it was, with the best of intentions, meant to ensure that towns and school districts, particularly those with lower- or under-performing schools, used monies earmarked for education for that purpose and no other.

But over time MBR compliance has morphed into a remarkably complicated bureaucratic process and led to a wealth of unintended consequences. The basic tenet of MBR says that a school cannot make a budget that is less than the budget it had the previous year unless it can meet a set of “exceptions.” These exceptions have many requirements.

The bottom line: Schools and the towns their students come from do not control their own education budgets. They must make budgets that meet the state’s requirements, and cannot make budgets that reflect the actual spending they plan to do in any given year.

The frustration this leads to — for parents, taxpayers, town officers, educators, and board of education officials — is very real. The solution lies in getting the General Assembly to change the statute to return budgetary control, or at least more budgetary control, to communities across Connecticut. Local boards of education can’t fix this by themselves, the legislature has to step up.

If you are concerned about MBR, contact your state assembly representatives, Maria Horn or Stephen Harding, on their websites, or Kevin Chambers, who runs the MBR program, at kevin.chambers@ct.gov.

 

 

Another topic that surfaced in Sharon during the budget deliberations —  should town governments help support the nonprofit organizations that bring services and cultural enrichment to their communities or should these groups be left to go about their own fundraising? It’s an interesting and somewhat surprising question. Many U.S. nonprofit groups get support from, and work collaboratively with, government entities at the local, state, and even federal level.

Institutions such as the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon and the Sharon Historical Society help anchor and build the communities they serve, communities of passionate readers, of life-long students, of families and friends, of energetic and engaged volunteers, providing many different opportunities for Sharon residents to connect with each other around shared interests and concerns.

These activities align with the town’s responsibility to promote the public good. Town support of its nonprofit partners is not frivolous, it’s essential.

Latest News

Busking in the Berkshires
Brent McCoy of Secret Circus Show at Berkshire Busk!
Roman Iwasiwka

While playing outside in the early post-pandemic days, Berkshire Busk! founder Eugene Carr had an epiphany: why not expand the idea of performing on the street (aka busking)into a full-fledged festival in Great Barrington?

As an entrepreneur and cellist, Carr envisioned a well-organized jamboree featuring regional talent, including musicians, acrobats, storytellers, fire-eaters, and more. He formed a team, connected with local businesses and the town of Great Barrington, and launched Berkshire Busk! in 2021. Since then, Berkshire Busk! has grown into a summer staple for Great Barrington.

Keep ReadingShow less
'Sylvia' brings heart, humor and one unforgettable dog to Sharon Playhouse stage
Jonathan Walker as “Greg” and Jen Cody as “Sylvia”in rehearsal at The Sharon Playhouse.
Aly Morrissey

What if the dog onstage was played by a person? That’s the delightful twist in A.R. Gurney’s “Sylvia,” opening at the Sharon Playhouse on Aug. 29. In this clever and heartfelt comedy, the title character — a stray pup who disrupts the lives of a married couple — is portrayed not in costume but by an actor who brings insight, charm, and chaos to the role.

Stepping into Sylvia’s paws is Jen Cody, who is returning to the Sharon Playhouse in a starring role for her third year in a row, ready to bring this spirited dog to life. She’s joined by Jonathan Walker as Greg, the middle-aged man smitten with his new four-legged friend, and Jennifer Van Dyck as Kate, his wife, whose patience and identity are tested by Sylvia’s sudden presence in their home.

Keep ReadingShow less
Labor Day weekend art, design and local finds

Paul Chaleff’s exhibit at Mad Rose Gallery in Millerton.

Provided

The unofficial end of summer is here, and while some of us may mourn the shortening days and cooler nights, the culturally-inclined denizens of the Litchfield Hills, Berkshires and Taconics have plenty to look forward to.

During Labor Day weekend, visit one of the offerings below, and maybe even take home a watercolor, rug, or locally-crafted wooden bowl to ready your home for the indoor season ahead.

Keep ReadingShow less