Gunner, fyi
*** Tolland Education Budget Process on far upper right:
http://www.tolland.k12.ct.us/
*** Tolland Residents Give Feedback On Town Budget
By LARRY SMITH Special to The Courant 10:28 PM EDT, April 2, 2010
TOLLAND —
" One thing was certain this week — no one who attended a public hearing on the plan wanted the town council to reduce the town manager's proposed $49.32 million 2010-11 budget.
Town Manager Steven R. Werbner's request represents a 0.96 percent increase over the current $48.85 million spending plan. Within that proposed budget, town spending would decrease 0.5 percent and board of education spending would see a 1 percent increase.
School officials had proposed a $35.63 million spending request, which represents a $2.16 million increase — 6.46 percent — over the current budget.
In a lengthy presentation Wednesday, Werbner said the town faces a difficult economic climate in which federal and state funding are diminishing and local revenue sources aren't growing either. He said town officials took into consideration the economy and how much of an increase taxpayers would be willing to take for not just the next fiscal year but the next few.
"The reality is that Tolland cannot, on its own, tax its way out of this difficult economic climate," Werbner said.
Most of the people who spoke at the public hearing Wednesday asked that the budget be increased, mostly for schools, and voters will have their say at a May 4 referendum.
During a straw poll, 129 voters said the budget should be increased, 26 liked the budget as proposed and no one voted to decrease it.
Brandy Gadoury, who lives on Sugar Hill Road, said that taxpayers get something for every dollar they pay. Gadoury said education has been pitifully funded for a long time and changes need to be made.
"I understand it's a hardship for a lot of people," Gadoury said.
Sam Belsito, a Lee Lane resident, said he supports the budget proposal.
"This budget is fair and makes funding available and it would not put an undue burden on the taxpayer," Belsito said.
School board Chairman Robert Pagoni said the schools' budget was the most scoured and scrubbed proposal the board has offered. The $1.8 million reduction from their request is more than the school system can handle, he added.
Pagoni said the school system's responses to Werbner's suggestions were put on the school system's website:
www.tolland.k12.ct.us.
Susan Drive resident Paul Krasusky said he would support more spending in the budget. He said he is embarrassed by such things as the school system's teacher-to-student ratio.
"The town can't shrink to excellence," Krasusky said.
The town council will deliberate and finalize the budget at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the council meeting room in town hall, 21 Tolland Green. The annual budget presentation meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. April 27 in the Tolland High School auditorium, 1 Eagle Hill. "