Trumbull School Board May Address Final Budget Details

The Board of Education is scheduled tonight to address how to reach for 2013-2014.

The amount reflects a 2.74 percent increase, rather than the board's requested 4.56 percent increase.

"To accommodate this reduction will not only be an arduous task, but also a complicated one. Many factors must be considered and integrated into the final determination," said Supt. Ralph Iassogna, who retires June 30 after 14 years as the superintendent.

The meeting starts about 7 p.m. in the auditorium at the Long Hill Administration Building but will first have an executive session for personnel matters.

At its disposal the school board will have several sources of funds to allocate.

• $874,000, set aside in a separate account under a state law originally used to fund all-day kindergarten;

• Potentially $400,000 in unspent 2012-13 funds;

• Town Technology;

• 2013-14 Transportation savings of approximately $240,000 (leasing).

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Also on the agenda will be updated personnel accounts, including status of new requested positions based on 2013-14 enrollment status and possible "surgical shifting" of Booth Hill students to Middlebrook School.

Other sources of future savings could be merging town and school health insurance.

"At tonight’s session, the administration will present to the Board of Education a summary of our budget status, including above items, and receive Board input on budget direction," Iassogna said.

The May 21, 2013 Board of Education meeting is targeted for final Board 2013-14 budget account allocations, the superintendent added.

The last step in the budget process is the setting of the tax rate, which takes place later this month. The final budget numbers are similar to those recommended by First Selectman Tim Herbst, who said taxes would rise by about 2.1 percent under his recommended plan.