Board of Education Talks About Budget Reduction Process

The Board of Education talked briefly about the reality of a reduced 2011-2012 budget during its meeting Tuesday night.

Monday evening, the Board of Finance voted to reduce the increases in the Board of Selectmen and Board of Education budgets to 1.5 percent.

The Board of Education had requested a proposed budget of $22,904,566, a 2.8 percent increase from the 2010-2011 budget of $22,283,809. With the finance board’s action, the Board of Education must eliminate $100,000 from its capital plan and $186,500 from the operational side.

The capital improvement portion will bring the level of funding toward a window replacement project for portions of the Canton High/Middle School building to $100,000. Superintendent Kevin Case’s original budget proposal had a $400,000 request to finish the project but the board had already brought the level down to $200,000 and planned to fund it over two years. 

This week the tough process of deciding what to cut from the operational side begins, Case said. 

“I am meeting with the administrative team Friday,” Case said.

From there, he will be able to bring forward some recommendations to the board’s finance subcommittee, Case said.

Whatever the recommendations, it will result in some staff reductions, Case said.

Board of Education member Susan Crowe asked how specific the board would initially get about potential areas of reduction.

Case said the board could certainly share ideas and board chairwoman Beth Kandrysawtz also remind members that the plan still has to go to voters  - either at the May 26 annual budget meeting or – if enough signatures are obtained by those petitioning to referendum – at the polls on June 8.

“At the point the specifics do become public,” she said.

The board also briefly discussed the budget meeting and whether a strong showing could show the finance board that people want to maintain education spending.

Even with a strong showing, the board of finance has made it clear that if the budget is defeated further cuts – not additions – would be the course of action, Kandrysawtz added.

Restoring funds may not be impossible but would be an uphill battle, she added.