The Cheshire Town Council passed the coming fiscal year’s budget last week—one that will ensure a no-mill increase for residents.
But while many may be relieved at the news, the results did come at a cost, especially in the form of cuts to the BOE recommended budget.
The overall Town of Cheshire’s operating budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year will be $116,087,850, after it was passed by the Town Council on May 28. The majority of that money will go to education spending, but the final allottment is significantly less than what had been requested.
“Not everyone can be winners here, and we’ve done our best to ensure that the taxpayers are protected, first and foremost,” said Town Council Budget Committee Chairman David Borowy, at last week’s the budget meeting.
The Board of Education will be allocated $74,539,926, which is approximately $1.2 million dollars less than what the BOE received last year, and roughly $960,000 less than what the Superintendent of Schools, Jeff Solan, asked for earlier this year during his budget presentation.
“It’s relatively disappointing to see our budget cut during this pandemic,” said Solan. “This is the fifth year we’ve had a relatively low budget, but we have been out-performing other school districts who’ve received more funding.”
While the Town Council expressed their faith in the Board and belief that it can still continue operating at the high level that has become expected, Solan admitted that he is concerned over what the cuts might mean for Cheshire students down the line.
“It’s easy for the Council to say that they have faith in us when they have continuously cut our budget despite our performance,” Solan said. “But I am anxious to see what is coming down the pipeline and what will need to be funded as we see this pandemic pay out.”
Solan believes that a strong partnership with the Council will be necessary in order for the Board to be successful this coming school year, and understands what might be at stake if that partnership is not there.
“I am hopeful that we will be able to have a strong partnership with the Council,” Solan added. “...Without that, our students will be at a great disadvantage when we try to come back to school in the fall, whatever that looks like.”
When students do return, according to Solan, it will be a litmus test for the new budget. Costs for things such as appropriate personal protective equipment, additional busing, and Chromebooks are unknown at this point.
“I am scared to see what our ability to adapt (will be),” Solan continued. “...If they implement things like alternating half-day schooling, that is going to cost us a lot of money that we don’t currently have.”
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Solan Worried About What Continued Budget Cuts Will Mean For Students - Cheshire Herald
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