MONROE, Conn. — Parents made their voices heard at budget hearings to restore cuts to Superintendent Joseph Kobza’s proposed spending increase for Monroe’s public schools. The Board of Finance put money back in and Kobza found savings to maintain staffing and programs. Now those same parents are rallying support to pass the revised budget proposal at referendum on May 5.
Following reductions of $250,000 from the majority of the Board of Education and $1.6 million from First Selectman Terry Rooney, the Board of Finance restored $1 million with an additional $200,000 reserved in contingency.
On Sunday afternoon, Katie Tolan, Elizabeth Richer, Steve Dias, Kelly Middendorf, Brittany Man and David Walker, whose children have already graduated from Monroe’s public schools, met at the Starbucks on Route 111.
“I’m happy we got here,” Middendorf said. “I’m happy we got here with the pressure. I’m happy people got involved, but I’m worried that this is yet another year of short-term planning and doing more with less. We can’t keep doing this. I’ll vote for the budget, but I’ll continue to show up and stay engaged.”
Polls will be open at the Monroe Community Center, in the former St. Jude School building at 709 Monroe Turnpike, from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5.
The $113.6 million town budget proposal includes $35,943,054 for municipal services and contingency funding and $77,700,763 for education. It represents a 4.2 percent tax increase with the mill rate increasing from 28.67 to 29.879 mills.
Individual tax bills can be calculated by multiplying one’s assessed property value by 29.879 — the rate the Board of Finance is expected to set if the budget is approved at referendum — and then dividing by 1,000.
Man is a behavior analyst for the school system, but spoke as a mother of two.
“I understand it’s a complex process,” she said. “I’m continuing to listen and learn. I’m encouraged it’s coming back to a vote from the community, but my concern remains that we are adjusting to accepting less and celebrating what’s already a reduction and a loss. And I would like to see a budget that reflects supporting the school system. My concern will always be the impact on the kids.”
“I know we can count on our professional educators to do more with less, but we really want them to do more with more,” Walker said.
“I’m going to vote yes,” Dias said, “but still with disappointment, because we voted for a first selectman to do his job and it seems like it’s always scare tactics with the budget and it’s our kids who are the ones who suffer. I would like to leave the games for the children to play at recess and not for Town Hall.”
Everyone in the group vowed to follow the budget process closely going forward.
“I want us to remember this time next year that the $200,000 was moved from the Board of Education side to the municipal contingency,” Richer said. “I’m concerned that next year the first selectman will say the schools are already asking for an additional $200,000. It can’t be framed as a new expense next year. We’re going to remember what it is.”
“Blaming the state for where we are is a narrative that has continued in this town since 2013,” Middendorf said, “and state funding is absolutely part of the problem, but that doesn’t change the reality we’re facing.”
“And it would be nice to have town representatives going to Hartford to advocate for more funding,” Tolan added.
“This took an enormous effort and I’m grateful for everyone involved,” Richer said. “It’s not just the schools,” she said of the budget. “It’s striking a balance of the critical aspects for supporting both the municipal side and the school side.”
A pile of postcards that were displayed on the table, reminding people to vote on May 5, will be distributed around town. The goal is to pass the budget and to do it convincingly.
“The outcome of this vote comes down to turnout,” Middendorf said. “If I care about adequate municipal funding, class sizes, student support and the strength of our schools, the most important thing I can do is to show up and vote on Tuesday. Even better, bring a friend, take a few minutes and it makes all the difference.”
The cause goes beyond parents with children currently in the school system. Walker is among the yes voters whose children graduated long ago.
“I’m absolutely going to vote for this and I’m going to encourage my friends to do so,” Walker said. “I’ve got a lot of friends my age, who don’t have kids in school and they’re asking me what I think of this, and I’m encouraging them to vote for this budget.”
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