The Newtown Board of Education will have its final budget workshop on the proposed 2014-15 funding package tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Municipal Center.
Interim Schools Superintendent John Reed presented his $71.58 million proposal earlier this month.
The proposed budget was kept lean, with Reed requesting only .75 above the current year’s budget, with a bow to concerns of taxpayers about rising taxes, particularly after a revaluation period where property values decreased and the economy has not yet rebounded such that taxes are on the decline. The school district leaders also took a look at declining enrollment in the request that a proposal to eliminate 18 teaching positions.
One aspect of the budget discussions that has caused some concern is a proposed school security plan, the financial obligations of which are not included in either the school operations budget or in the municipal government budget. A new school safety officer model - nine armed officers and eight unarmed security officers - would add about $216,000 to costs already in the budget. School officials said some grants might offset those costs above what is in the school budget - about $324,000- but those are not guaranteed, nor are they promised as a long-term funding stream.
The costs of school resource officers at the high school, middle school and intermediate school are included in the Police Department budget; roughly at a cost of about $300,000.
School board members have expressed concern about balancing safety against the educational needs of the district.
The school board’s final proposal will be forwarded to town Finance Director Robert Tait on Feb. 14 and it will then head to the Board of Finance for further deliberation and then to the Legislative Council for a final vote before it goes to referendum in April.
As it was last year, school security is likely to be a major topic in those sessions.