Canton Board of Education Expected to Adopt Budget Proposal

Tuesday night, the Canton Board of Education expects to adopt a recommended budget to pass on to the Board of Finance. 

Superintendent of Schools Kevin D. Case proposed a budget of $24,571,072, a $1,130,670 or 4.82 percent increase over the approved 2012-2013 spending plan of $23,440,402. 

At a previous school board meeting Carlene Rhea said the finance subcommittee has been looking at ways to lower that increase. 

The subcommittee met on Friday and looked at issues such as capital improvements, costs of funding the proposed track and field, a proposed school resource officer and the enrollment numbers and number of  "full-time equivalents" or FTEs. (Some teachers are hired for fewer hours than full time, such as .5, which is half. Two such employees would make up 1 FTE). 

School administrators will look more closely at the budget and Tuesday the Board of Education is expected to make a recommendation. 

At a recent meeting, several speakers asked the board for a greater commitment to sports funding and support. The elimination of privately funded programs was a recommendation of a recent Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference report. In his proposed 2013-2014 budget, Case proposed $8,000 as part of a three-year plan for the BOE to take over the cost of girls lacrosse and volleyball. Boys lacrosse and football are also privately funded and some speakers sought a great commitment. 

At the meeting this week, members of the public will have a chance to speak again.  

The special meeting will be held on Tuesday March 5, 2013 at 7 p.m.. See agenda here. 

On March 20 at 6 p.m. administrators are set to present the plan to the finance board. One night earlier, the Board of Selectmen will do the same. Selectmen have proposed a plan of $9,555,878, a 3.99 percent increase over the 2012-2013 approved budget. See more on that in this earlier story. 

A finance board public hearing will take place on March 25 at 7 p.m. 

Other budget dates include: 

• April 2 at 4 p.m. Board of Finance budget workshop 
• April 15 at 7:30 p.m. Board of Finance meeting
• No later than May 3 — Town-wide budget mailer 
• No later than May 6 — Legal notice 
• May 13 at 7 p.m. — Annual budget meeting 

Unless petitioned to referendum by 150 qualified voters, the budget is generally decided at the annual meeting. If attendance at the meeting does not meet that 150 threshold, it also goes to referendum. 

If voted down at town meeting, the Board of Finance generally sets the budget. 

Most meetings will take place at the community center but the annual town meeting and hearing could be held in larger venues.