Voters increase school budget to return cut positions

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Staff photo by COREY PERRINE Peter Basiliere of Milford moderates during the school district deliberative session Thursday, Feb. 4 at Milford High School. Milford school district met for it's annual session dsicussing the upcoming year's budget.

Enlarge Purchase Photo

Staff photo by COREY PERRINE Milford residents vote on articles during the school district deliberative session Thursday, Feb. 4 at Milford High School. Milford school district met for it's annual session dsicussing the upcoming year's budget.

Enlarge Purchase Photo

Staff photo by COREY PERRINE Peter Basiliere of Milford moderates during the school district deliberative session Thursday, Feb. 4 at Milford High School. Milford school district met for it's annual session dsicussing the upcoming year's budget.

Enlarge Purchase Photo

2010 Milford Town Meeting
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MILFORD – Saying they want to avoid cuts to teaching hours, voters last week added money back into the district operating budget.

The School Board’s original $35.3 million operating budget reflected reductions to some staff hours, the board’s reaction to a “very challenging year,” said Chairman Peter Bragdon.

But residents at the Feb. 4 at the School Deliberative Session voted 74-9 to increase the budget by $419,451, on a motion by Budget Committee Chairman Kevin Federico.

That means when voters will add money back into the School Board’s budget if they approve the operating budget in March.

Voters last Thursday night, the majority of whom seemed to be parents or school staff, also put the $1.7 million Jacques School addition warrant article on the ballot, after School Board member Bob Willette went to the microphone to explain why he changed his mind. Up until last week Willette had opposed the project.

The four-classroom addition would cost the district $438,000, with the state paying $1.2 million, and Willette said the opportunity for state funding might not be available next year.

Five out of seven Budget Committee members voted in favor of the amendment to increase the budget, and Deanna Carter, a member of the town Budget Committee, also spoke in favor of the amendment.

“I am one of the people on a fixed income, she said, “but I am very uncomfortable cutting staff.”

Article 5, which involves buying property to create a parking lot adjacent to the high school, was amended from $300,000 to $110,000, the agreed upon price for a lot north of the high school where a mobile home is now located. The School Board had planned to swap two lots the district owns near the Heron Pond School, but the owners of 90 West St. were not interested in the swap.

Money for parking lot construction will come from previously approved high school renovation funds.

The School Board’s original operating budget and warrant articles would have meant a 25 cents increase in the local school portion of the tax rate, for a $50 increase on a house assessed at $200,000.

The amended operating budget would increase the tax rate to about 51 cents or about a $100 increase on a $200,000 house.

The $35,433.032 default budget, plus the $82,701 cost of the agreement with the administrators, is anticipated to result in a $0.29 increase in the tax rate. The Jacques addition would not cost the district anything the first year.

After the Deliberative Session the School Board met and voted not to support the amended budget, 3-2, with Paul Dargie and Bert Becker dissenting.

Voters will decide on all town and school articles and zoning amendments on Election Day, Tuesday, March 9. Milford Middle School is the polling place and polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Kathy Cleveland can be reached at 673-3100, ext. 21, or kcleveland@cabinet.com.