MONROE, CT — Superintendent Joseph Kobza created a priority list of things he wants to bring back most from an education budget proposal with a spending increase the first selectman reduced by $1.85 million. Topping the list is $197,300 for two seventh grade world language teachers.
Since that is the cut parents advocated for most during a public hearing, Board of Finance members discussed the possibility of restoring those funds during their budget workshop Wednesday night.
First Selectman Terry Rooney said the projected increase in the health insurance rate came in lower, so the positions could be paid for with the difference.
While the Board of Finance can restore the funds, Chairwoman Rebecca O’Donnell noted its members cannot tell the Board of Education how to spend it by state statute.
At a Board of Education meeting earlier in the week, Chairman David Ferris asked fellow board members for a consensus that, if any money is restored, they will stick to the priority list. Others expressed unanimous agreement.
The $107,069,131 town budget proposal includes $73,917,629 for education, which is $2,453,370 or 3.43 percent higher than the current $71,464,259 spending plan. The Board of Education asked for a 6.02 percent increase.
Rooney said education is paramount in Monroe and the town’s cost per students is competitive with surrounding towns and O’Donnell noted that 70 percent of the town residents do not use the school system.
Concerned over a state-mandated revaluation that sharply increased residential property values, the first selectman had decreased the school board’s proposal by $1,850,000 to lower the impact on taxpayers. Commercial property values did not increase as dramatically, adding to the tax burden of homeowners.
Rooney also recommended reducing the tax rate by nearly 10 mills, lowering the current rate of 38.27 to a mill rate of 28.61 for fiscal year 2025-26, and using $4 million of surplus funds to further limit the revaluation’s impact on homeowners.
Municipal spending would rise from $31,873,849 to $32,437,035 for a $563,186 or 1.77 percent increase. The town budget also includes total fund appropriations and contingency, which would be reduced from $771,586 to $714,467 in the first selectman’s proposal.
During Wednesday’s Board of Finance workshop, board member, Steve Kirsch proposed putting $597,591 from a list of things Kobza identified as his highest priority back into the education budget, as well as another $138,586 for an assistant principal at Stepney Elementary School.
Kirsch said money could be used from the undesignated fund balance and the special revenue fund.
Rooney said the fund balance money would have to be paid back and O’Donnell pointed out that positions on the list meshed with other lists of reductions that included funds for pensions and insurance.
Before the finance board appeared to reach a consensus on restoring funds that could be used for world language, Samantha Spino said if the $1.85 million was put back in and voters turned down the budget at referendum May 6, they could take it back out.
Rooney said it would cost $4,400 for a second referendum. He also agreed when Vice Chair Katherine Stauffer mentioned a state statute saying a municipality failing to pass a budget by the July deadline will automatically revert to the same budget and mill rate for the next fiscal year.
Treasurer Frank Dutches said that’s only if the town doesn’t pass a budget by July, which never happened in its history. The town has had as many as six referendums before voters passed a budget.
Rooney said he still thinks it’s an important fact people should know.
The first selectman also said the town will pick up the school board’s share of salaries for two cybersecurity positions if need be.
“I’m not making concessions on cybersecurity,” Rooney said. “In my opinion, it’s very short-sighted to cut cybersecurity.”
The Board of Finance plans to solidify budget lines for the 2025-26 town budget proposal at its next meeting April 17, before voting on a final version to go before voters at its next meeting.
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