Politics & Government

RTM Leaders Defend Board of Ed Budget Cut

RTM Majority Leader and Deputy Majority Leader Say Why They Supported $800K Cut to Board of Ed Budget in Letter Submitted Two Weeks Before June 14 Referendum on Restoring the Cut

Editor's note: The following letter was received from James Millington, the Representative Town Meeting's majority leader and a District 9 Republican, and Edward Bateson III, the RTM's deputy majority leader and a District 3 Republican.

On behalf of the RTM Republican caucus members who voted to reduce the increase in the education budget, we take this opportunity to offer some perspective on the difficult and thoughtful decision reached by this group's members.

The process began in January when the Board of Education submitted a budget proposal which represented a $6.9 million increase over and above last year’s budget of $141.6 million. After months of review by the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance and RTM, the process finally concluded on May 3rd, when the RTM overwhelmingly approved a total town budget that included education spending in the amount of $145.7 million. The decision represents a $4.1 million increase over the previous year in education spending.

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We support our fellow members' decision in approving this budget. We are fully aware that some of our constituents believe that this increase in education spending is not enough, just as others are disappointed that the increase was not further reduced. We know some citizens have decided to petition the RTM’s decision to referendum, which will take place on June 14th. As is everyone’s right, we encourage the process so your voice can be heard. For the record, the Board of Selectmen/Board of Finance agreed to hold the increase in education spending to $4.9 million, while the RTM held collectively that the increase should be limited to $4.1 million. Each group looked at what was essentially the same set of facts but came to slightly different conclusions in so far as an appropriate level of restraint to be applied in limiting the year-over-year budget increase.

We believe that difference is attributable to the timeframe that each group deemed reasonable in which to allow the Supt. of Schools to implement process change and resource reallocation were he to so choose. When all is said and done, the Board of Education has a budget which is 2.9 percent higher than last year’s budget. This represents a strong statement of support for education in our town.

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In our view, this increase is a measured approach which takes into consideration both the need to ease the ever increasing burden upon Fairfield’s taxpayers while still providing adequate resources for our children’s education. The fact is that a 2.9 percent increase year-over-year is not insignificant given prevailing economic circumstances, and it is a higher increase than most other towns in Fairfield County will experience this year in their education budgets.

The commitment to education by Fairfield’s elected representatives has never been in question. The RTM over the past decade has invested more than $200 million in buildings and facilities for educational purposes. We have watched our student population grow from 8,000 students to more than 10,000 students. We supported adding an 11th elementary school, a new middle school and re-opened a dormant high school. We have supported this growth with an increase in education staffing of more than 259 employees in the last decade, 170 of those being certified teachers.

Members of the “Representative Town Meeting” represent the broad spectrum of people who live here in Fairfield, not all of whom have the financial means to absorb tax increases year after year after year. To a young couple with school-aged children who just moved to town, an annual property tax bill of $10,000 may be appealing. On the other hand, some longtime elderly residents may have seen their property taxes go from $3,000 to $10,000 in the last decade. Again, a broad spectrum of taxpayer expectations has to be accommodated.

Fairfield is an affluent community by most any standard and for many, perhaps most, tax increases do not represent a hardship, but as representatives we must, and do, consider the needs of everyone.

Furthermore, challenging economic times compel both individuals and organizations to reassess and prioritize their needs.

James Millington

RTM Majority Leader, Representative District 9

Fairfield, CT

Edward Bateson

RTM Deputy Majority Leader, Representative District 3

Fairfield, CT


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