Schools Opt to Leave Budget Cuts Intact

In a far cry from last year’s financial tensions, the Board of Education unanimously voted on Monday to not seek restoration of the $250,000 cut from its budget by the Board of Finance.

“I think the Board of Finance deliberated, gave it their best effort and I think there are times when one has to step back,” said Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon.

If the Board of Education sought the money back, the Board of Finance would have decided on Wednesday what to do about the request.

Not counting debt services, Westport’s school budget totals $98.345 million for 2011-12, an increase of 2.3 percent. While the schools will not be seeking that quarter-million dollars back, there is a chance that they could still receive it.  The Representative Town Meeting meets May 2-4 to have the final say on the budget. The town’s legislative body could decide to give some of the money back.

Board of Education Chairman Don O’Day said there’s always a “natural tension” between the Boards of Education and Finance, but that he wanted to thank the Board of Finance for their work this year.

“[It] was a very fair process and I think they were extremely reasonable. They’re all pro-education. I thought they did a great job,” said O’Day. “While I strongly thought that our budget should be approved, I understand their reasons. I understand their thoughts."

The cut mandated by the Board of Finance last week was a much smaller than the  $3.5 million slashed from last year’s budget.

The total proposed budget for next year amounts to $178,643,110.