Milford GOP Unlikely to Restore $2.2M in School Budget (CT)

May 3, 2010

Republican leaders on the Board of Aldermen say they do not foresee reinstating any of the $2.2 million reduction to the Board of Education budget, while top Democrats say they would approve additional funds.

Republican aldermen hold a 10-5 majority.

Acting Superintendent of Schools R. Michael Cummings has proposed closing Simon Lake School, eliminating 45 staff positions and reconfiguring the elementary school system. There are nine elementary schools, and Cummings has proposed to create four schools for kindergarten through second grade, and four schools for grades 3 through 5.

The Board of Finance reduced the school board budget for next year by $2.2 million, which necessitated the cuts. Cummings’ plan is just a proposal, and the school board must approve any budget reductions.

Aldermanic Minority Leader Phillip Vetro, D-4, said this week that Democrats are committed to reinstating money in the education budget.

“We’ve restored money in the past when we were the majority party. Democrats have a big interest in education. We’ll see what (the Republicans) do,” Vetro said.

Aldermanic Chairman Gregory Smith, R-3, said last week that it’s likely the aldermen will approve a budget that gives the school board more money than it received this year. The Finance Board-approved budget for the school system next year provides a 2.25 percent increase over this year.

He said the Democrats just want to “spend more, spend more, spend more.”

“The Democrats need to understand that the taxpayers cannot afford an even larger increase than the Board of Finance recommended, especially since we have no guarantee that additional funding will change any of the controversial plans the Board of Education is moving toward,” Gregory Smith said.

Cummings has said that the school board would need nearly 5 percent more to keep Simon Lake open, not eliminate staff, and not restructure the elementary schools.

Alderman Ben Blake, D-5, said last week that he’s fielded numerous calls from parents who have questions about the proposed restructuring.

He said if the school administration cannot assuage parents’ concerns, then it may be prudent to see how much money the school board needs to “move forward and not backward.”

Blake noted that last year, when the Democrats were in the majority, the school system was maintained, and the city approved a tax decrease for all residents even during a recession.

“My hope is all 15 aldermen have an interest in maintaining the school system while cutting taxes. We did it last year,” Blake said.

Aldermanic Majority Leader Paula Smith, R-3, said last week recently that she applauds Cummings’ recognition that the economic woes are not just a one-year problem, and his proposed action was needed.

“As far as the budget, it’s easy to say restore the funds,” Smith said. “It sounds a little like grand standing. There is no more money (for the school system) unless we go back to the taxpayers.”

Paula Smith said there is nowhere to cut on the municipal side of the budget, and as for the aldermen approving spending increases, “I don’t see it happening.”