Budgets Enter Final Stretch

The 2011-12 budget season is nearing its end.

After trimming $100,000 from the Board of Education's budget and $7,000 from the Board of Selectmen's budget, Weston's Board of Finance approved both budget figures at its meeting on Thursday, March 24, at . The selectmen will pass on a $11.18 million budget to the town, while the school board will ask for $45.17 million.

The education budget and the selectmen's budget, as passed by the financiers, increased by about one percent.

The new mill rate, if these budgets are passed unchanged by the populace, would be  23.92. The current mill rate is 23.86.

Deliberations on the school budget

Jerry Sargent, finance board member, said that declining enrollment, also a problem in , “was the elephant in the middle of the table,” when the education budget was up for discussion.

Dr. John Reed, acting superintendent of Weston's schools, indicated that committing too much energy and resources to the issue of enrollment erosion would be premature at this time, as the deteriorated real estate market and birthrate numbers may rebound.

Reed also noted that schools have seen a reduction of a few full-time-equivalent (FTE) teachers in response to smaller class sizes.

Finance board member Michael Carter pointed to the current 5.88 percent contractual yearly increase that Weston has been locked into for the past three years and said that many people “can’t relate to salary increases” based “solely” on “seniority” or “advanced degrees,” which do not necessarily relate to actual performance. 

“Not everyone is getting that kind of raise,” Reed said.

Carter encouraged the school board to "think very strategically" as they enter into new contracts in the future.

The new education budget of $45,166,337 passed by a four-to-two vote, with finance board members Bob Atkinson and Melissa Koller opposing on the grounds of not agreeing with the $100,000 reduction. The school board , to which the Board of Selectmen from.

Last year's Board of Education budget was $44,697,023.

Elmination of tractor

If passed, the new debt service budget decreased by $384,569 to $6.7 million, while the capital budget would increase almost 40 percent to $1.03 million.

After some debate, $25,000 was reduced from the capital budget. The decrease was due to elimination of funds for an additional tractor, which would have been given to Parks and Recreation. 

The tractor would have “assisted with the beautification efforts of the town,” First Selectmen Gayle Weinstein said. Now, the schools and Parks and Recreation Department will have to share the existing tractor.

One minor milestone was passed last night: Atkinson, husband of of over 30 years Jane Atkinson, was finally able to vote on the Weston Public Library fund. Atkinson had abstained from voting due to conflict of interest.

He enthusiastically seconded the motion to approve the library’s funds, receiving laughter and applause.

The 2011-2012 Annual Town Budget Meeting will take place on April 6.