Tolland School Budget Numbers: A New Look at Expenditures

Editor's Note: The worksheets were replaced on Friday, Jan. 25 with updated versions. Tolland School District Business Manager Jane Neel relabeled some of the accounts so that their purposes were clearer, and $139,000 of actual expenses from 2011-2012 were factored in, as well. The $139,000 consists entirely of encumbrances. Otherwise, the worksheets are still entirely the work of school board member Joe Sce.

Tolland's is offering a fresh look at the school district budget. 

Sce presented a worksheet at the school board's Wednesday night meeting tracking increases and decreases in school accounts from the 2011-2012 actual exenditures through the 2012-2013 budget projections and the superintendent's proposed 2013-2014 budget.

"The residents in this town have been hit very hard with federal tax increases, Sce said. "The reduction in student enrollment over the past three years is over 300, so with that in mind, I'm convinced the town will not pass the proposed budget."

Superintendent William Guzman recommended a 4.95 percent budget increase for Tolland schools earlier this month.

Sce said that he hopes his budget worksheets will help the board identify areas in which to make reductions.

"We have to look hard at ways it can be reduced," he said.

Sce explained that while there is no single line item that can save the budget, he said he hopes to find at least $700,000 in savings in the accounts he highlighted. These accounts were selected for either large increases in percentage or dollar amount over the past two years.

Sce added that he wants to thoroughly examine the highlighted accounts before even considering cuts to teachers.

"They're the front lines instructing our students," he said.

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Guzman said that his staff will work hard to provide background to the school board by its next meeting as to why the highlighted items increased over the years.

Sce's worksheets can be seen, attached above. The general summary sheet is the one with highlighted accounts. Other sheets break down the budget by schools, the central office, maintenance, etc. 

These worksheets were created using actual expenditure numbers from the 2011-2012 school year, budgeted expenditures from the current fiscal year, and the data from the superintendent's proposed 2013-2014 budget.

The school board is holding its third budget workshop on Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. at Tolland High School.