East Haven School Board Approves Budget With Spending Increase

Originally written by Jack Kramer, Correspondent

EAST HAVEN, CT – A week after rejecting the school superintendent’s proposed 2017-2018 $49.42 million budget because they thought it was too high, the very same Board of Education approved a budget asking for $49.71 million – nearly $300,000 more.

The Board approved the higher budget amount – to send to the Town Council – at is February 1st meeting – by a 4-3 vote.

Board members who voted in favor of the higher expenditure plan said it was their job to advocate for the children – not to cut costs.

Board members who opposed the budget said they didn’t believe the Town Council would approve a budget increase that large, especially in light of the fact that the state has been cutting education grants to towns.

East Haven will have to come up with another $145,230 it hadn’t anticipated for this coming school year, to help the state balance the 2017 budget.

East Haven was slated to receive $19.74 million in education funding from the state for 2017. It is now being told in a letter it received recently it will receive $145,230 less – or $19.59 million.

Recently, Mayor Joseph J. Maturo said it was his intention to come up with a no tax increase budget for 2017-2018, despite the fact that the state is likely to continue to cut municipal aid.

Latest projections have the state running a $1.5 billion budget deficit.

(Editor's Note: This story first ran previously but here it is again in case you missed it.)