Budget Cuts: Town Considers Layoffs, Reduced Services

Proposed cutbacks to the town budget may necessitate layoffs and reduced services, according to the town departments affected.

The Board of Finance last month laid down a series of cuts to the planned budgets for the 2011-12 fiscal year and demanded that First Selectman Gordon Joseloff’s proposed town budget of $66.2 million be cut by more than $400,000. The Board of Education spending plan of $98.3 million was trimmed by $250,000.

The Representative Town Meeting meets May 2-4 to have the final say on the budget and may decide to give restore some of the cuts. Combined, the town budget totals $178.1 million, a 2.2 percent increase from the current fiscal year.

Patch examined what the budget reductions might mean for Westport.

Parks and Recreation: $80,000 cut

A reduction of that size "will have a significant impact on providing services,’’ said Stuart McCarthy, director of Parks and Recreation. He said the trimmed budget would force the loss of one full-time customer service representative and one part-time account clerk. He said the reduction on the front desk would mean slower service for items such as beach parking stickers.

Also the loss of clerical staff is "counter-productive’’ because it means "a lot of that work gets pushed up the ladder’’ and supervisors end up doing it, he said. McCarthy is seeking to have $70,000 of the proposed reduction restored by the RTM, but will not contest a $10,000 cut in the spend on a new department truck.

Office of Information Technology: $75,000 cut

The Office of IT manages the computer and phone systems for all town departments and agencies except the Board of Education. The Board of Finance trimmed the town IT budget to try and trigger more consolidation between the town and BOE.

However, director Eileen Zhang wishes there had been a consolidation plan in place before the axe fell. "We need to sit down and look at all the areas we can work together,’’ said Zhang. "We all wish our government to be as efficient as it can be and should be.’’

She said it would be preferable to invest in combined town and BOE IT functions now, to get savings in the long-run. There needs to be "a workable plan on the table,’’ she said. "That’s common sense.’’ As for how to cope with the $75,000 cut,  "I don’t have a perfect answer yet,’’ she said.

Board of Education: $250,000 cut

Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon said in an emailed response that he could not elaborate yet on what the quarter-million dollar budget cut might involve. He said that discussions on where the savings would be found would take place after the RTM makes its decision in early May. If the cut is not restored, Landon will meet with all the department heads and recommend a proposal to the Board of Education. The recommendations will be made public May 9. The schools’ budget of $98.3 million is an increase of 2.3 percent on the current year.

Department of Finance: $75,000 cut. Personnel: $50,000 cut

The Board of Finance also wants to see consolidation between the finance, personnel and schools functions of the town. Finance Director and Acting Personnel Director John Kondub said that he, First Selectman Joseloff and the Board of Education are currently discussing the consolidation effort. In an emailed statement he said: "We are in the process of assessing how these budget cuts would impact services provided by the Finance and Personnel departments if some of the proposed consolidation efforts can not be achieved in an immediate time frame. The matter is still under review.’’

Westport Transit District: $40,000 cut

The Board of Finance initially laid down a $100,000 cut but for a smaller reduction. Still, the $40,000 cut shaves 14 percent off the $281,000 transport budget. "That’s a real reduction,’’ said Jim Hood, co-director of Westport Transit District, given that this year’s budget was "flat’’.

The Transit District is responsible for the bus service in Westport, which is operated by Norwalk Transit District’s buses and drivers. The cut would mean the elimination of three commuter shuttle buses from Westport train station, or the possible adoption of those routes by Norwalk Transit District. Westport is also now considering raising fares by 50 cents to $1.75.

The Board of Finance also insisted on a $22,500 reduction in health care consultant costs. The town and schools use different consultants and as such "the cut is intended to encourage them to talk about combining this service with the aim of greater efficiencies,’’ said Helen Garten, chair of the Board of Finance, via email.