Superintendent's Proposed Budget Has 1.43 percent Increase

Superintendent Pamela Aubin today proposed a budget that contains a 1.43 percent increase over the current year.

The total amount is $36,789,692; the increase is $519,657.

The propsed budget reduces one kindergarten position and one upper-grade position. The kindergarten position cut is based on birth rates, Aubin said; she anticipates fewer kindergarten students entering the system. The upper-grade position cut is based on a plan to consolidate classes.

Certified teacher salaries are cut, in the proposed budget, by $457,607. This includes the new teachers' contract, in which teachers have agreed to maintain their current pay levels in the 2011-2102 academic year. It also reflects the retirement of two middle school teachers, Aubin said.

"In addition," the synopsis of the proposed budget states, "the total line item is offset by the federal Education Jobs Fund allocation due to expore in June 2012."

This fund, $610,000, was given to the Montville school system by the federal government, over two years. The funding was to allow school systems to maintain staffing levels in the face of the taut economies in which they are operating.

There was discussion throughout the session this morning about this federal money, and what the school system will do when the funding ends, after this academic year.

"A year from now," Aubin said, "we are going to have to build that funding back in."

The proposed budget reflects two expected retirements, and the return of one teacher from a leave of absence. One position in the middle school was left vacant when William Kleinfelter was promoted, "and we are not filling it," Aubin said. A .35 position in the math department at the high school was cut.

"The plan results in a reduction in force," the synopsis states, "unless there are unanticipated retirements or resignations."

Aubin and many board members remarked repeatedly on how important it is that the teachers have agreed to a year with no raises or step increases.

"I want to congratulate the teachers on that," Aubin said.

Other highlights of the proposed budget include:

An increase of $185,024 for salaries of noncertified staff.

An increase of $32,245 for salaries for paraprofessionals in special education.

An increase of $11,690 for salaries for paraprofessionals in regular education.

A decrease of $13,703 in retirement benefits and unused leave payments.

An increase of $256,796 in FICA, insurance, MERF, Pension and Medicare. The bulk of this, according to Aubin, is the increase in employer's portion of the Municipal Employee Retirement Fund from 9.5 percent to 11.6 percent. By statute, the employee's contribution remains at 2.25 percent.

Several areas of increase involve additional special-education students entering the system. These are Purchased Services (up $132,796); Contracted Services, repairs and maintenance (up $119,128); and Tuition (up $96,892).

Transportation and liability insurance dropped by $11,834.

Workers compensation dropped by $22,555

Advertising dropped by $20,000. "We just don’t use print advertising like we used to," Aubin said, adding that they were using more targeted online advertising.

Supplies drop $4,101.

Extracurricular supplies drop $4,911

Heating fuel is up $177,255.

And the capital improvement budget requests $562,380.

This includes

One bus: $181,280

One van: $23,920

Paving: $78,000

Parking lot repairs at Mohegan: $40,000

Security for Tyl: $82,000

Sidewalk at the high school and Tyl: $102,000

One maintenance vehicle: $55,180

The board is scheduled to vote on the propsed budget at Tuesday's meeting.

Tune back into Patch on Monday for video from today's meeting.