Budget Hearing April 10, 2014 My Comments

Public Hearing April 10, 2014

I am very concerned that the budgets presented are inconsistent with the recommendations of the Board of Finance with a 0%-1% increase. Neither board adhered to this recommendation.  The Board of Finance has recommended that $900,000 should be taken from the General Fund to cover overruns in the Golf budget, with a loss of $235,000 and the salt budget among other expenditures. The Board of Selectman forwarded the 2013-2014 budgets without the line item for unnegotiated salaries. How can this 6 figure amount be omitted from a budget when there is an overview from the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance?  Not only do we have omissions in the budget but we now have moved many maintenance items into the Capital programs.  Many of the Capital line items are removed from the operating budget so the expenditures can be added without affecting the operating budgets. Since the Charter Revision was approved, the Board of Finance can approve by majority vote all items under the 1% of the budget, eliminating these expenditures for referendum vote. The budget as presented has small maintenance budget items adding up to six figures, to be approved by the Board of Finance.  This is a gross manipulation of the budget with the collusion of the Board of Education, the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance.  Why should the taxpayers support Main Street Partnership, a non-profit organization in the town’s budget?  Why should the taxpayers support a golf course that continually loses money and is used by a majority of non-residents? I will not support the Board of Selectmen budget and the Board of Education budget since they are manipulating the expenditure budget by placing maintenance expenditures off line and using the General Fund as a slush fund. 

Recently there was an article in a magazine that compared the mill rate in various towns. West Harford 36.30, Granby 34.83, Glastonbury 35.10, Canton 26.91,Avon 26.32, Farmington 24.07, Simsbury 38.51. Simsbury had the highest Mill Rate. What policies is the Board of Finance proposing to reduce our Mill Rate so Simsbury can be competitive in the business market and home market?  How can Simsbury be in a competitive business market and home market when our expenditures increase and our revenues are diminished? 

The Board of Education has included in their budget presentation the $5 million dollars of Grants that they have received from the State.  This was included in the budget as a recommendation from the Board of Finance for more transparency.  The entire Board of Education budget should reflect all expenditures and revenues for more transparency.  The grants can be reduced or eliminated as the State uses its resources for private education with additional resources going to Magnet and Charter Schools. As Revenues decrease, it is important to find ways to be creative with fewer resources.

There is a very disconcerting trend with State Funding that everyone should know. I recently received information from the State Education Department on their allocations of money for investment in schools.   Open Choice was $27 million for FY 2013 and increased to $37 million in this fiscal year (FY 2014).

• Magnet Schools were $244.6 million for FY 2013 and increased to $284 million in this fiscal year (FY 2014).

• Charter School funding is included in the Education Equalization Grant and was $65.5 million for FY 2013 and increased to $76 million in FY 2014. There was over $3 billion dollars allocated for Grants and other expenditures. The State pays $11,000 for each student enrolled in Charter schools and only $6,000 for Open Choice in Simsbury’s schools. This trend in distribution of money away from public schools and the unrealistic demands placed on teachers and students through Common Core and Smarter Balance places public education at risk. Everyone should follow the money. More money from the Federal and State governments, more Charter and Magnet Schools will be increased and public education funding will be decreased.  The tax dollars will go to Wall Street and away from Main Street. The Sheff vs. O’Neill  lawsuit never envisioned $3 billion dollars allocated away from public education to Charter and Magnet Schools with minimal results.  We are being manipulated by big money and I would urge our elected officials to  speak out against this manipulation of our resources and the undermining of public education.  We the taxpayers have to demand that our town officials speak out against the increased allocation of our tax dollars for private education.  It is the responsibility of the Board of Finance to forward budgets to the taxpayers that will control spending, lower the taxes and reduce the Mill Rate, if we are going to be competitive with other towns.  Do your job!