Starting the Conversation on a New Tolland Budget Season

Transparency and communication are two areas of improvement Tolland residents want to see addressed as the new budget season gears up, according to the participants in Wednesday's community conversation with the school board and town council.

"There's a lack of robustness of the board of education budgeting system," said resident Bob Rubino during the discussion portion of the meeting. He cited last year's debate over high athletic fees as one example of what he thinks is a difficulty in getting budget numbers from the district. 

"It took a herculean effort to provide the data," he commented. 

Town council member Mark Gill added that he believes the council and school board should begin to work together and address what he says is a looming $2.1 million increase in the district budget to maintain school services at their current level.

According to Gill, some of these costs stem from raises in teacher and staff salaries, as set by contract, health care increases and utility expenses, according to his projections. Gill said he also factored in approximately $650,000 into the potential shortfall, since the board of education used that amount in unspent balance from last year's budget to pre-pay a portion of this year's health insurance costs. 

"We have a hole right now, and we have to figure out how we're going to whittle it down," Gill said.

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Superintendent William Guzman responded that it is too early in the budget season to start calculating possible deficits.

"To say we're in a shortfall when we haven't even completed next year's budget, I can't comprehend that, " Guzman said. "Let's see how it all lays out before we get caught up on that number."

According to information from the school district handed out at the meeting, teacher salary and benefits increases will amount to $920,303 for the 2013-2014 budget year. There is also a projected increase in transportation of $74,136.

Residents chimed in with suggestions on how to help taxpayers follow the school board budget development, which Guzman explained can be nebulous, due to unexpected changes in state grant funding, fluctuations in enrollment and other unforseeable expenses.

School board chairperson Andy Powell noted a list of potential action items from residents, including providing more information on budget numbers and developments for taxpayers at the beginning of public meetings. He also said that the school board will host another community conversation in November with an increased focus on allowing dialogue for participants.

However, several elected officials and participants spoke up to remind Tolland that behind all the budget numbers, the goal remains to provide and maintain educational services for children.

"Our mission," Guzman said, "is to provide an educational program for all of the children of Tolland."

The school board's next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.