by Phillip Zema
Berlin’s 2010-2011 budget was rejected by a vote of 710 to 542. Options to purchase another school bus and spend $100,000 in renovations failed by votes of 620-599 and 608-561, respectively. In what was one of the most heated elections in recent memory, incumbent Beverly Stewart, John Nash and Alan Webster Jr. were elected to three-year terms on the Board of Education. Stewart overcame Sara Feathers by a vote of 641-609; Nash defeated Richard Beckwith 641-595 and Webster’s 710 votes topped incumbent Jeffrey Paine’s 549. Compared to the 2009-2010 budget, which passed 595 to 248, 409 more citizens voted on this year’s budget. Moreover, under a thousand people voted on the 2009-2010 Greene/ Darling (654-309) and Goodermote/Nash (612-334) elections.
This year’s budget stood at $18,757,983, which was a $476,267 (or 2.61%) increase over last year’s budget. The increase would have only required a 1.74% tax levy. Some of the budget’s more controversial components likely affected the vote’s outcome. Decisions to close Grafton one year ahead of schedule, to increase BOCES spending by 4% (the District already spends $1.8m per year on BOCES, albeit some of it is refundable) and to move students into modular classrooms may have influenced voters’ decisions. Another significant factor, which was vehemently articulated in many BOE meetings, may have been that the public felt alienated from the budget process. Whatever the reason (there may be a myriad of them), the budget was overwhelmingly defeated, and so the BOE and administration must take an alternate route.
One option is for the Board to modify the budget and hold another public vote. If the Board approves a second budget, the vote will be held on June 15. A week before the voting date, there must be a budget hearing. A week before the hearing, the Board must evaluate the budget and approve of it. This stringent time frame does not leave the District with much time to develop a suitable budget (one that satisfies the district’s educational requirements). If the second budget fails, then according to State law, the District must implement a contingency budget. The contingency budget will likely be set close to the 2009-2010 figure of $1,828,716.
Teacher contracts and state-mandated programs will be protected under a contingency budget, but non-contractual programs like sports and drama may be compromised. Furthermore, it was said at the Budget Hearing that Grafton Elementary would still be closed. The Board, however, has some authority to decide which programs, activities and buildings are funded by the contingency budget. The biggest caveat, with some exceptions, is that the District cannot spend a penny more than what the contingency budget allots. This factor fetters how the Board can allocate the District’s money.
Wednesday’s BOE meeting, which emanated an ambiance of contention and public frustration, laid out the above mentioned scenario. Heinz Noeding, however, presented a highly involved alternative budget. His amended budget, which could be lower than the contingency budget, must be developed in about a week, ideally by May 26, so the Board has enough time to adequately evaluate it.
The Board was receptive to Noeding’s proposal and agreed to create a leadership advisory committee, which will be
composed of members of the BOE, administration, PTO, faculty and community. The committee’s tasks include developing an amended budget, creating a long term financial plan and helping preserve Grafton Elementary school. The jury is still out on whether consolidation can be postponed. All but Gina Goodermote supported a motion to create the committee. This committee has until May 26 to create a viable amended budget, one that adequately satisfies the District’s educational needs.