East Haven Superintendent Seeking 8 Percent Budget Increase

Board of Education Chairman John Finkle said emphatically there is no way taxpayers can handle an 8 percent school budget increase.

But Superintendent of Schools Portia Bonner said while 8 percent sounds high, in reality that number is needed to just sustain and maintain services from this year to the next, the New Haven Register reports.

Bonner has requested a $51.2 million spending plan for fiscal 2016-17, which is a $4.1 million increase from the current schools budget.

Bonner said the reason for the 8 percent increase is that health insurance is increasing and salaries and benefits for staff members was under-budgeted this year, the Register reports.

The budget also examines the possibility of closing between one and three schools, which would save some money. Student enrollment in East Haven has been declining for the past several years.

Read the full Register story here.