Malloy Reduces Guilford's State Education Dollars to Zero in His Budget Proposal

Originally written by Jack Kramer, Patch Correspondent

GUILFORD, CT – While school officials have completed their usual budget-making due diligence, preparing a $58.77 million, 2017-2018 budget calling for a 1.49 percent hike in current expenditures, the state budget crisis may send educators back to the drawing board.

On February 8th, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy presented his two-year, $41-plus billion budget plan. The central theme of that plan is taking away from the more affluent towns and give to the poorer cities in an effort to help the state out of its current $1.6 billion deficit.

Guilford is considered one of those “affluent” towns.

In his budget, Malloy proposes giving Guilford zero dollars for education funding the next two years. Currently the town receives about $2.7 million from the state.

The good news, for Guilford, is that Malloy’s budget will have to pass by the General Assembly – a large part of which is made up by representatives from towns like Guilford whose towns were hit hard by Malloy.

Board of Education Chairman William Bloss said: “It is highly unlikely that the governor’s proposal will be adopted without significant revision by the General Assembly. We are closely monitoring state budget discussions, and I have been in contact with Sen. Ted Kennedy and Rep. Sean Scanlon about the possible effects of the proposal on Guilford.”

Bloss added: “While it is far too early to offer conclusions about specific impacts, if cuts of this magnitude were passed, the Board of Education would have to re-examine all programs and policies to assess their continued merit in light of any new funding levels.

“Although it would be a decision of the full Board of Education and Board of Finance working together, with the concurrence of town voters, cuts of this magnitude would undoubtedly affect multiple programs and likely would affect class sizes,” Bloss said.

A week before Malloy’s bombshell, the Board of Education voted to submit a $58.77 million 2017-2018 for approval, a 1.49 percent increase in expenditures over the current allotment.

The board voted on approving the budget at its January 30th meeting, after cutting $289,000 off the originally submitting the budget. The lion’s share of the savings, $200,000, is money anticipated in savings is in the retirement of five teachers at the higher end of the pay scale.

It was also agreed at the budget meeting that the pension contribution could be decreased by $50,000; the custodial staff by $35,000; the administrative staff by $24,000.

Some of the savings was offset by a decision to add a school resource officer, though that funding was reduced from the originally requested $25,000 to $20,000.

Bloss noted that before chopping some funding, the board was considering a slightly over $59 million budget, which would have been close to a 2 percent increase.

The budget does include funds for coaches for a cheerleading and swim team – though participants and their families would be expected to help contribute toward the cost of the programs.

The budget also includes the addition of a math coach, which Superintendent of Schools Paul Freeman indicated was the “highest priority and most important investment included in the budget.”

The budget also includes $30,000 for the creation of an International Baccalaureate program at Guilford High School.

The high school recently became only the fourth district in the state, and the first in the New Haven area, to be qualified to conduct an International Baccalaureate program m.

Freeman recently reported to the Board of Education that the first IB classes will be offered in the beginning of next school year.

Bloss conceded that the state budget issues – and the impact it will have on towns such as Guilford – will dictate what happens next with the school budget.

“We are acutely aware of the over-reliance of Connecticut towns on property taxes due to the state’s failure to enact meaningful property tax reform, and we will work very hard to minimize any local impact.

“The state proposal is particularly disappointing because our Board of Education and employee groups have worked together to reduce costs – especially in health care – and by changing from defined benefit pension plans to defined contribution plans. The Board of Education has also properly funded those pensions.

“Regrettably, Bloss said, “over several decades the state chose not to do the same.”

Written by Brian McCready

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