BUDGET REVIEW SCHEDULE 2010-11  :  Meetings so far - outreach to town on school budget, proposed capital budget set...

• BIG WEEK COMING:  First Selectman's budget to the Board of Selectmen Tuesday, Feb. 2;  Board of Education, Wednesday, Feb. 3;  Thursday the extra day - Board of Selectmen votes after the "Speak Up" weekend - on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010.
  
• Board of Education FY'10-'11 budget meetings at the Weston Library - School Budget schedule;
  
• Capital Advisory Committee in Town Hall Meeting Room EARLY in the mornings...
  
• Budget Process gets underway with Board of Education public meeting Nov. 21, 2009, 10:30am to 12 noon at the cafetorium at WIS, about their budget and its assumptions and what you think about these!
• First discussion of the budget FY2011 a "Tri-Board" event:  "About Town" report here.  FORUM article here.
• Odds and ends from elsewhere...budget shortfalls around the USA.  Combo finance features?
  

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Weston First Selectman requests 1.73% budget increase
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Wednesday, 03 February 2010 11:56

First Selectman Gayle Weinstein has proposed a town operating budget for 2010-11 of $10,980,027, a 1.73% increase over the current year’s budget.  Ms. Weinstein said the budget “reflects the community’s values,” by including increases for human services, a commitment to public safety, and “genuinely caring about the community and our neighbors.”

At the same time, Ms. Weinstein said the budget demonstrates “strong budgetary restraint,” evidenced by the fact that the average increase over the past five years was 3.9%.

“Justification was the key in creating these budgets... All departments started at zero, and we built the budgets from the bottom up, based upon agreed needs,” the first selectman said.

Unemployment

One of her motivations for keeping this year’s budget as tight as possible are the unemployment statistics for Weston, which show a lot of Westonites are struggling this year, Ms. Weinstein said. 
Statistics show that prior to 1999, Weston’s unemployment rate ranged from about 1.5% to 3%. In 2008, it peaked at nearly 6%. By December 2009, it had dropped to 3.9% — still higher than normal. 
Projected “revenue challenges” were another reason expenditures have to be kept in check, Ms. Weinstein said.

Revenue is expected to drop by almost $400,500, a 13.94% decrease. This includes a $293,700 (22.7%) decrease in local revenue (town clerk fees, building permits, interest income, etc.) and an anticipated $106,776 (9.6%) decrease in state aid (mainly education grants).  To counteract this, the first selectman has proposed raising fees for garbage stickers from $1 to $1.50 per bag and increasing Parks and Recreation user fees.

“While these won’t provide a direct offset to the operating budget, it is my hope that those additional funds [from the Parks and Recreation fees] can be used towards field replacement, which impacts our capital budget,” Ms. Weinstein said.

Ms. Weinstein said the largest budget drivers — items that are most responsible for budget increases — are health insurance, pension, and OPEB (other post employment benefit) liability. The increases for these three items total $275,127 or a 12.9% increase. The three items alone account for 21.9% of the total proposed budget.

Election costs

Another cost increase that is beyond the town’s control is money needed for elections and registrars. The state is no longer going to pay for the optical scan ballots required for use in primary and general elections.

“These ballots cost 46 cents each,” Ms. Weinstein said, meaning the town must budget an additional $4,500 for ballots alone, given the likelihood of primary elections this year as well as the scheduled general election in November for state and federal seats. Overall, the town is looking at a 21.9% increase for elections and registrars costs.

Offsetting some of the increases in the operating budget is a 9.31% decrease in the proposed capital budget. The 2010-11 request is $75,133 less than the 2009-10 capital budget.  The capital budget often “yo-yos” from year to year, depending on what the town chooses to fund, and what might be funded through bond issues (see related story on page one) rather than in the capital budget. Ms. Weinstein said she will be looking into the possibility of creating a “sinking fund,” money set aside for periodically repaying a bond issue, in order to mitigate the up and down nature of the capital budget.

In

While Ms. Weinstein describes the budget as “particularly lean,” she said it’s important to note it does include money for some “important, essential” items, including:

• An upgrade of the security monitoring system at town hall
• Upgrades at the Communication Center
• An increase in the human services budget
• An increase in the fire marshal’s hours from 17.5 hours to 19.5 hours per week
• An increase in the legal counsel line “simply because it was not realistic... We’re trying to make it reflect what really happens,” Ms. Weinstein said.

Out

The first selectman said it is also important be aware of some of the things that are not in the proposed budget.  Town officials had predicted some layoffs, but Ms. Weinstein said there were few places she was willing to make cuts. “Staff-wise, we are as lean as can be without truly cutting into essential town services,” she said.

The proposed budget does eliminate a part-time library assistant and an animal control assistant. These will likely be partly offset by increases in overtime for other employees, however.  Also, one transfer station employee position is being reduced from full time to part time, necessitating a reduction in hours of operation at the transfer station.

No salary increases for union employees are budgeted at this time, but contracts are up for negotiation in June. A general cost of living increase of $25,000 is being budgeted to offset the possibility of salary increases.  All non-union employees agreed to salary freezes last year; they have been given a 1% increase in the proposed budget, plus any planned “step” increases (scheduled salary increases based on the number of years employed).

Budget schedule

The Board of Selectmen is scheduled to vote on the town budget proposal and a recommendation for the school budget this Tuesday, Feb. 9. The approved budgets then will be sent to the Board of Finance for review.  The finance board is set to review the town budget proposal Monday, Feb. 22, and the school budget on Wednesday, Feb. 24.

A public hearing on the budget requests is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23, at 8 p.m. at Weston Middle School. On Thursday, March 25, the finance board will deliberate and decide on a final

OUR VIEW FROM WATCHING TOWN TV:

First Selectman's Budget & Capital Budget, FY2011 Presentation
We stayed home to watch Tuesday evening, Feb. 2, 2010..  As best we could figure out - it was a quick delivery - the First Selectman's budget is up $186,637, the Capital Budget is down at $736k, so there is a $40,563 decrease - or 1.59 cent decrease per person - or something like that!

What we noticed:  the Health District was severely punished by the State of CT, and this means higher costs to towns of Weston and Westport, which the town will agree to pay.  Also, Registrars of Voters got biggest increase (lots of primaries, etc.).  Unusual cut to Library we thought, altho' the explanation was that anyone who hadn't spent their previous budget down got it cut this year (that's why they call it "zero based" - history is no excuse).  NOTE:  overdue book fees one of the big budget surplus generators.

Discussion of Weston budget as it reflects the "rural" nature of the community;  keeping the faith with residential character and understanding that we are #2 in CT as MOST non-commercial town (after Roxbury) has a cost.

It was noted by the First Selectperson that insurance (health and other kinds) and pension costs make up 30% of the town budget.  Efforts had been made to coordinated future dealings on the subject of payroll functions in coordination with the Board of Education - and something may come about in the near future with training and automating;  and there was an increase in the Grand List of 0.2%


BOARD OF SELECTMEN REVIEWS BOARD OF EDUCATION BUDGET FY2011
We tuned in again to Channel 79 to watch Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010's Board of Selectmen review of the Board of Ed budget - which was thorough.  There were many questions asked (and answered) but the tenor of the meeting was most agreeable, with no suggestions that the number should be reduced beyond the official 1.64% increase.

Suggestions were made and questions asked as to how the Board of Ed was plannning to pursuade teachers to go for H.S.A. medical plans, how they were saving money with volunteer help, and a very interesting series of mentions of the whole O.P.E.B. issue...when the big cost will hit, if the Legislature is aware of the need for relief, etc.  See our own O.P.E.B. webpage here.

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C A P I T A L    B U D G E T    F Y  2 0 1 0  - 2 0 1 1

First Meeting, Capital Advisory Committee (l);  Weston Middle School Roof - isn't it really multiple roofs plural?

Weston's Capital Advisory Committee: Budget request is $732,200
Weston FORUM
Written by Patricia Gay
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 12:01

There appears to be some good news on the horizon for the town and school budgets.  A proposed cut to items in the capital budget may offset increases in the operating budgets.  Last week, the Capital Advisory Committee recommended a combined town and school capital budget of $732,200, which is $471,933 less than the current capital budget of $1,204,133.

The committee recommended 11 items, totaling $732,200, for the 2010-11 capital budget, including:

• $150,000 for the Valley Forge Bridge grant match.
• $120,000 for wetlands mediation at Weston Middle School.
• $77,000 for fire portable vehicle radios.
• $155,000 for the first stage of police digital radios.
• $20,000 for work on the Revson infield.
• $27,500 for half the funding for replacement of the Weston High School track.
• $20,000 for turf replacement fund.
• $50,000 repairs to town buildings.
• $47,700 for one and a half police cruisers. (The town purchases one or two vehicles a year.)
• $45,000 for Public Works Department small dump truck.
• $20,000 for an administrative vehicle to be shared by the Land Use department.

The Capital Advisory Committee cut several items that were requested by town and school departments, including:

• $98,000 for the fire truck general fund replenishment.
• $125,000 for Public Works Department snow plow.
• $10,000 for a Bisceglie infield.
• $75,000 for a GIS (geographic information system).
• $69,000 for a heating upgrade at Weston Middle School.
• $43,700 for external masonry repairs at Hurlbutt Elementary School.

In addition, the committee advised rolling three other items into a bond with the $3.76-million middle school roof project, rather than including them in the capital budget.

Those items include a boiler for the middle school for $235,000, a boiler at the high school for $144,000, and a boiler for the Weston Public Library for $100,000.

The selectmen and the finance board met Tuesday night to approve an approximate $4.2-million bond for the roof and boiler replacement projects.

With a projected decrease in revenue, and increases in pension and health care costs, the town is struggling to keep its operating budget down. “We could not get the operating budget down to zero,” said Tom Landry, town administrator.

He said the Capital Advisory Committee is aware of the economic situation that residents are facing and scrutinized each capital request. “The committee did not judge capital needs against operating budget needs. They said if we can defer it we’ll do [that], but if we need it, we will do it regardless.”

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Capital Advisory Committee meets at 7:45a.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room

#4
CAPITAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE MAKES FINAL CHOICES
January 20, 2010, 7:45am, Town Hall Meeting Room lasts close to two hours;  decisions made by consensus with one item still undecided* (list from the minutes of previous meeting):

• Valley Forge Bridge - $150,000
• Middle School wetlands mediation - $120,000
  
• Fire Portable/vehicle radios - $77,000
• Police Digital Radios - $155,000
• Revson Infield - $20,000
• HS Track Seal (half of the requested amount) - $27,500
• Turf Replacement Fund - $20,000
• Repairs to town buildings - $50,000
• Police Cruisers (1 1/2) - $48,000
• Small dump truck* for DPW - $50,000 (First Selectperson will discuss this item further with DPW).
• Admin/Inspection car - $20,000

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@$730,000 total capital budget FY2010-2011 (NOTE - this is not the exact number - we didn't hear it clearly in the Town Hall Meeting Room so early in the morning).


BOND ISSUE COMING

When it comes to re-roofing projects, it never is a "pay-as-you-go" job for school buildings (they are sooooo big);  bonding is always the answer - spread it over many years is the way to go.  BUT especially if the rates are low, as low as they are now and in the next several months.

So late in this meeting the subject came up - discussion of a bond issue for the Middle School Roof and possible for the Library (again, I am not certain of this - the Town may already have put aside the $$ for the Library or some of it) plus boilers and other Kaestle Boos identified projects.  How would it be accomplished?  The Board of Finance is on the case!  It would be dependent upon the state of the bond market in late April and the readiness by the Town to fully explain why a bond issue at this time is advantageous to the taxpayers.  Refinancing issues from 2004, 2005 and 2007 can take place not before May.  Please remember that this is an unofficial source, so check our report against official news!


#3

CAPITAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING NOTICE      
TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2009 at 7:45 AM
TOWN HALL MEETING  ROOM  
1.    Discussion/decision regarding  capital budget priorities and limits for FY 2010-2011       

a)    School List-@$268,000
b)    Town List-  @$651,000 or so.

2. Any other items of business to be brought up for Committee consideration/there will be off-line discussions taking place to finalize some details during departmental; reviews (final) of Town-side budget;  at the next meeting there should be discussion of bonding for the Library Roof, the Middle School Roof and related capital expenses.
3. Adjourn. 

#2
The second meeting of the Capital Advisory Committee took place Monday, December 14, 2009.  At this meeting the first presentation was by the Police and Fire department representatives re: digital radio for public emergency purposes.(Sgt. Daubert and Chief Pokorny);  a Town financial advisor (Mark Chapman) discussed the municipal bond market.  Considering the timing of interest rates and bonding, several scenarios re: refinancing some of the Town debt were discussed, with possible action around the time of ATBM - coincidental but not related to next year's budget, we think.  Middle School Roof seen as numero uno project ($3.7 million est.).

Next meeting @Jan. 14, 2010 (TBA)

#1
Opening shot in the 2010-2011 Capital Budget process:  Monday, November 23, 2009 Board of Education sets out its ideas for the coming year and discusses modification to Kaestle Boos study;  discussion of the bonding environment re:  Middle School Roof and other capital needs.  NOTE:  in response to Dan Gilbert's suggestion about reprioritizing the K-B suggestions over time, Director of Operations for the Board of Education and the Superintendent report that this has been done and is a work in progress as facilities age at different rates.  First Selectman notes that the original multi-millions are now lower thanks to this process by the Board of Education.  Present market and construction industry flexibility might make the K-B numbers (from 3 years ago) change, as well

Discussion of possible bond issue in a year or two.  Next meeting set for Monday, December 14, 2009 (tent.), at the same hour (?)

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Weston boards begin budget banter
Weston FORUM
Written by Patricia Gay
Wednesday, 11 November 2009 16:34

With the election over, the town’s top boards wasted no time starting the budget process, even though the newest elected officials had yet to be sworn in.  On Monday, Nov. 9, there was a joint meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Board of Education, and Board of Finance to discuss preliminary issues they expect to face in the upcoming budget.

“This budget year will be one of very tough decisions that may involve some changes. That’s what we have to explore for both the town and the schools,” said Mike O’Brien, finance board chairman.

Tom Landry, town administrator, provided a letter to Ellen Uzenoff, school board chairman, answering questions she had about the town’s financial condition.  On the positive side, the town’s tax collection rate is at 51.3% and is on target where it should be at this time of year. 
The town’s fund balance is healthy at $6.8 million, and the town has maintained its Aaa bond rating.

On the negative side, there have been 11 foreclosures in Weston since January. Historically, there is an estimated one or two foreclosures a year, so that number is up significantly.  In addition, there are 56 mortgages reported to be in some stage of default. And the unemployment rate in Weston is 5.4%, according to the Department of Labor.

Education

The school board offered a PowerPoint presentation showing ways it has saved money and cut costs in the past few years.

“Since 2007 and 2008, the district has saved approximately $3.95 million through cuts and creative savings,” said school board member Phil Schaefer.

As one of its budget assumptions, the school board stated it plans to continue to explore and implement opportunities to be more cost effective, to contain costs, and to avoid costs wherever possible.

The school district will also explore cost savings through energy initiatives and transitioning employees into a health savings account (HSA) benefits plan.

“The fact remains that we have a challenging budget we have to put forth. We also have to take into account what is in the best interest of the schools, so it is a double challenge for us,” said Ms. Uzenoff.

Renegotiation

One of the topics raised was whether there could be a renegotiation of the school board’s contract with the teachers’ union in light of the economic downturn.

School board members said there could be gains to such a renegotiation, but there could also be losses because when a contract is renegotiated all its terms are up for discussion, not just salaries and benefits.

Still, the board said it would ask its legal counsel to review the possibility of a contract renegotiation and offer an opinion.

Taking the concept of renegotiation a step further and relating it to both the town and school budgets, Selectman-elect David Muller said, “What we are really talking about here is renegotiating the contract between the town and the citizens of the town.”

He said if the boards adhere to a rigorous budget approval process, some things may need to be cut. “There is a disjoint between the services that people want and expect, and what they are willing and able to pay,” he said.

He added that the town does not have the flexibility of deficit spending and must adhere to its budget. In keeping with the concept of zero-based budgeting, he said every expense should be reviewed and scrutinized.

First Selectman-elect Gayle Weinstein said she was encouraged by the joint meeting. “It’s great that these three boards are working cooperatively, and it’s important that we look at services we can combine for the betterment of the town,” she said.

After the meeting, audience member Margaret Wirtenberg said she was encouraged by the discussion.

“Everyone is working together and trying hard in these difficult times. It is a good sign that everyone wants to be open,” she said.

Because public comment was limited during the meeting due to time constraints, the school board has scheduled an open forum to further discuss its budget on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 10:30 to noon, at the Weston Intermediate School cafetorium. The public is encouraged to attend.

“We need to hear from the public and we hope people will to come to us with their suggestions. This is the time to listen and talk,” Ms. Uzenoff said.

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AN INTERESTING COLUMN

Op-Ed Columnist
The Banks Are Not All Right
NYTIMES
By PAUL KRUGMAN
October 19, 2009

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. O.K., maybe not literally the worst, but definitely bad. And the contrast between the immense good fortune of a few and the continuing suffering of all too many boded ill for the future.

I’m talking, of course, about the state of the banks.

The lucky few garnered most of the headlines, as many reacted with fury to the spectacle of Goldman Sachs making record profits and paying huge bonuses even as the rest of America, the victim of a slump made on Wall Street, continues to bleed jobs.

But it’s not a simple case of flourishing banks versus ailing workers: banks that are actually in the business of lending, as opposed to trading, are still in trouble. Most notably, Citigroup and Bank of America, which silenced talk of nationalization earlier this year by claiming that they had returned to profitability, are now — you guessed it — back to reporting losses.

Ask the people at Goldman, and they’ll tell you that it’s nobody’s business but their own how much they earn. But as one critic recently put it: “There is no financial institution that exists today that is not the direct or indirect beneficiary of trillions of dollars of taxpayer support for the financial system.” Indeed: Goldman has made a lot of money in its trading operations, but it was only able to stay in that game thanks to policies that put vast amounts of public money at risk, from the bailout of A.I.G. to the guarantees extended to many of Goldman’s bonds.

So who was this thundering bank critic? None other than Lawrence Summers, the Obama administration’s chief economist — and one of the architects of the administration’s bank policy, which up until now has been to go easy on financial institutions and hope that they mend themselves.

Why the change in tone? Administration officials are furious at the way the financial industry, just months after receiving a gigantic taxpayer bailout, is lobbying fiercely against serious reform. But you have to wonder what they expected to happen. They followed a softly, softly policy, providing aid with few strings, back when all of Wall Street was on the ropes; this left them with very little leverage over firms like Goldman that are now, once again, making a lot of money.

But there’s an even bigger problem: while the wheeler-dealer side of the financial industry, a k a trading operations, is highly profitable again, the part of banking that really matters — lending, which fuels investment and job creation — is not. Key banks remain financially weak, and their weakness is hurting the economy as a whole.

You may recall that earlier this year there was a big debate about how to get the banks lending again. Some analysts, myself included, argued that at least some major banks needed a large injection of capital from taxpayers, and that the only way to do this was to temporarily nationalize the most troubled banks. The debate faded out, however, after Citigroup and Bank of America, the banking system’s weakest links, announced surprise profits. All was well, we were told, now that the banks were profitable again.

But a funny thing happened on the way back to a sound banking system: last week both Citi and BofA announced losses in the third quarter. What happened?

Part of the answer is that those earlier profits were in part a figment of the accountants’ imaginations. More broadly, however, we’re looking at payback from the real economy. In the first phase of the crisis, Main Street was punished for Wall Street’s misdeeds; now broad economic distress, especially persistent high unemployment, is leading to big losses on mortgage loans and credit cards.

And here’s the thing: The continuing weakness of many banks is helping to perpetuate that economic distress. Banks remain reluctant to lend, and tight credit, especially for small businesses, stands in the way of the strong recovery we need.

So now what? Mr. Summers still insists that the administration did the right thing: more government provision of capital, he says, would not “have been an availing strategy for solving problems.” Whatever. In any case, as a political matter the moment for radical action on banks has clearly passed.

The main thing for the time being is probably to do as much as possible to support job growth. With luck, this will produce a virtuous circle in which an improving economy strengthens the banks, which then become more willing to lend.

Beyond that, we desperately need to pass effective financial reform. For if we don’t, bankers will soon be taking even bigger risks than they did in the run-up to this crisis. After all, the lesson from the last few months has been very clear: When bankers gamble with other people’s money, it’s heads they win, tails the rest of us lose.

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BUDGET PROCESS  FY 2009 - 2010 OVER NOW...AND THIS CAME IN THE TAX BILL!

• CHANGE IN DATE!!!  Board of Finance met Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 8pm at Town Hall and talked a long time - read story from the FORUM here! 
  
• "Kids in Crisis" story here.
• ABOVE: Town Seal; March 16th, Board of Education talks health insurance - major number in the budget increase proposed;  
• workshop" by Board of Education brings out the public;  First Selectman Woody Bliss and Boards of Finance and Education; and link to the Board of Selectmen's schedule for the entire budget process.  For everything else, there is money;
  
• Whidbey Island deals with financial crisis too...
  

AT ATBM:  WARNING ISSUED BY ONE SPEAKER WHO PARTICIPATED IN EFFECTIVE ATTACK THIS YEAR ("zero" increase):  Next year the high school pool is on their radar as a big budget hog (i.e.  extra-curricular activities will be cut before teachers/class size).

Prior to the events at W.H.S., the Board of Selectmen conducted a Special Meeting at 7pm in Town Hall.  Approved with small comment were:  date for Selectmen's Driveway Ordinance Public Hearing (May 7, 7:15pm);  discussion of Stimulous Package opportunities, date for discussion with Nature Conservancy re: Lachat;  Executive Session on contract negotiations (no vote taken after).

On to ATBM!  We counted 250 or so in attendance in WHS auditorium (including the non-voters);  more came in after our count (school budget supporters arriving in time for that vote).  Prior to ATBM, announcements:  Carbon Monoxide Detector for every home in Weston (Fire Department project);  Police Commission's "Citizens of the Year" Teri Gaberman and Betsy Pereiyne received their award to full throated roar of approval (their latest project: getting a new Food Pantry up and running).

The business of the meeting began @8:30pm and lasted until @9:30pm.  Town, School and Capital Budgets all approved as is for fiscal 2010.

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THEN AT THE SELECTMEN APRIL 2...
Board of Selectmen meeting hears from Building Committee, and approves unanimously and conditionally (until Board of Education and Board of Finance give the OK) feasibility study request.  On the agenda also - renting fields to outside groups;  procedure at ATBM for secret ballot, most likely not necessary after Finance Board's cut. The way "secret ballot" has worked at Special Town Meetings in the past is, I believe, that the Moderator reads the "Call" then the penalties for false voting and then sets rules - which would include things such as "if a secret ballot on any or all items is requested, the Registrars of Voters will at the time explain the voting process...") e.g. Special Town Meeting May 30, 2002 purchase of 16 Parade Ground Court - http://www.lwvweston.org/townmtg.htm#may30vote

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DELIBERATE DELIBERATION
"About Town" was at the Board of Finance "deliberation" meeting for a short while @9:30pm with our cameraphone - and we figured that there would be a cut made when strong schools supporter on Board commented that of all the e-mails received since the Public Hearing the previous night was a short one from a resident who said (as best as we can recall it) he couldn't afford it (someone who had lost his job, perhaps?) and to please make a zero budget this year.

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Finance board members Melissa Koller and Michael Carter confer on the budget on Wednesday, April 1. —Patricia Gay photo

When a Board of Finance member reported on his 20% pay cut @9pm,it was clear the experienced hands that this would be the result! 
BREAKING NEWS: Weston finance board cuts school budget request to 0% increase       
Weston FORUM
Written by Patricia Gay    
Thursday, April 02, 2009 

BREAKING NEWS: Weston’s Board of Finance will send a 2009-10 budget to the taxpayers that is 0.30% less than the current fiscal year.

After a lengthy meeting last night, Wednesday, April 1, that ran close to midnight, the board approved a total gross budget of $63,227,023, a total of $190,563 less than the current fiscal year.

But with revenues expected to be about $436,163 less than they are now, the total net budget is proposed at $60,353,381, which amounts to a 0.41% increase.

Keeping in mind the troubled economy, finance board members said their goal was to get the budget as close to a 0% increase as possible.

The board voted unanimously to set the school operating budget at $43,975,601, the same amount as the current fiscal year, representing a 0% increase.  The school capital budget was set at $396,800, which is $21,800 more than the current fiscal year, a 5.81% increase.

On the town side, the finance board set the town operating budget at $10,793,490, which is $167,220 more than the current fiscal year, a 1.57% increase.  The town’s capital budget was set at $807,333, a 20.93% decrease from the current fiscal year.

The estimated mill rate is set for 23.50.  A mill is equal to one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value on the grand list. At a mill rate of 23.50, a taxpayer with property assessed at $500,000 would pay $11,750 in taxes.

Taxpayers will have the chance to vote on the budget at the annual town budget meeting Tuesday, April 21.

Full coverage of the board of finance meeting, as well as of the budget public hearing held March 31, will be in the April 9 issue of The Weston Forum.

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FULL HOUSE, ALMOST, AT WMS CAFETERIA FOR BOARD OF FINANCE PUBLIC HEARING:  8pm -10:35 or so (2008, 30 minutes).

Click above for story about Island County, WA problems

The "silent majority" not silent any more, as Finance Board reminded over and over that the economic problems are not going away, everyone is half as wealthy as before and many have lost or will lose jobs and not be able to sell houses in this market.  The "F" word as in "foreclosure" mentioned.  Meeting lasted more than an hour and a half (only 30 minutes last year).  No one pointed out that a shrinking Grand List means higher takes just to stay even with existing service levels.

FIRE ALARM GOES OFF HALFWAY IN...NO ONE LEAVES (SHIVERING OUTSIDE, WAITING FOR THE CHANCE TO SPEAK [AFTER ALL CLEAR]).  Board of Finance Public Hearing on the FY09-10 budget almost full house, takes 150 minutes (5 times as long as usual) - out-of-the-box and union contract thinking suggested....

• OPPOSITION TO BUDGET APPEARS:  http://www.westonfiscalresponsibility.com/
  
• "Speak Up 2009" blow-by-blow running in between Board of Finance reviews: Town (Feb. 23) and School Budgets (Feb. 25); 
  
• FIRST SELECTMAN'S BUDGET ONLINE HERE;  2.68% proposed increase.  Feb. 12 Selectmen vote on it - this is the story on that!
  
• The FY09-10 schedule from the Board of Education;  from the Selectmen, by way of the FORUM.
• SCHOOL BUDGET;
• Capital Planning Committee met Friday, December 19, 2008 - we assume before the snow began!  Did they finish their work?
• "Spending down" the surplus?  Some recent history...
• Budget story FY'08-'09 in Weston
• Another town in CT...
  
• CT Debt
• Weston's education spending proclivity
• Reassessment...close-out of process brings new "Grand List" - board of assessment appeals to work!
  

SCHEDUE OF BUDGET PROCESS MEETINGS FY2010

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"Any other business" re: A.T.B.M.
Board of Selectmen, March 19, 2009

Just an after thought...following up on the previous meeting's discussion of the rumblings about keeping the budget at zero increase--on the Education side as well as the Selectmen and Capital sections, too--March 19th saw the Selectmen discuss how the process works to get this to happen.

The First Selectman outlined the Weston Charter process as well as section 7-7 of the Connecticut General Statutes, which deals with this budgetary procedure.

Our advice:  go to the Town Clerk's office and ask.  And/or, attend the Board of Finance Public Hearing on the Budget for FY09-10, Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 8pm in the Weston Middle School cafeteria.  Be prepared to speak of your reasons for asking the Board of Finance to cut or not to cut the budget.  In the meantime, here is some information about how to find out online about these same matters!

WHAT DOES THE CHARTER SAY?

One publication that might inform the electorate in Weston can be found here: http://www.weston-ct.com/media/file/westontowncharter.pdf

WHAT DO THE CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES SAY?

Here is a link to the C.G.S. pertaining to this issue: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/pub/title7.htm

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Weston for Fiscal Responsibility forms to urge budget freeze       
Weston FORUM
Thursday, March 05, 2009 

Weston for Fiscal Responsibility, a community group representing parents and retirees who are mutually concerned about rising tax rates, has begun a petition campaign urging the Weston Board of Education to freeze all salaries and expenses at their current level.

The group already has gathered nearly 250 signatures and expects to be present at popular Weston locations throughout the next four weeks leading to the Board of Finance’s public hearing on the budget, scheduled for March 31.

According to Nina Daniel, one of the group’s founders, Weston for Fiscal Responsibility was created “by popular demand” when it became clear Weston residents were feeling the blows of the current economic crises as much as anyone, including families where jobs have been lost or reduced to part time, and retirees whose savings have been drastically reduced.

Robert Machson, also a founder, noted that teachers’ compensation is expected to increase more than 17% over the next three years, with administrators’ salaries to increase by almost the same amount. “With most taxpayers fearful of losing their jobs altogether, now is not the time to pay large increases,” Mr. Machson said.

The group does not support any cuts that will adversely affect the quality of education. Said another group founder, Martha Diamant, “We hope that school employees will follow the lead of the town and agree to freeze their salaries at the current levels.” However, she pointed out, Weston now has the highest per pupil costs of any comparable school district and the highest property taxes per capita.

“If the school employees aren’t willing to put a cap on their own salaries, then our Board of Finance may have to find other ways to keep the lid on taxes,” Ms. Diamant said.

The group may be contacted via e-mail at WestonFiscalResponsibility@yahoo.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.WestonFiscalResponsibility.com.

Members will be collecting signatures and petitions this coming weekend at Weston Town Center and other locations.

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Weston finance board examines school budget       
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly    
Friday, February 27, 2009 

ONLINE FIRST: Teacher salaries and health insurance costs account for the largest chunk of the Weston school budget. As such, they were also the topics most closely examined at Wednesday night’s finance board review of the 2009-10 school budget proposal.
“Approximately 80% of the total school operating budget can be attributed to people,” said Jerome Belair, superintendent of schools. “We’re a service. We are people.”

The school board approved a $45.13-million budget for the upcoming school year, a 2.62% increase over the current budget.

Of that, more than $7 million is being allocated for employee health insurance — a jump that translates into about $764,000 more than this year. On Wednesday, the finance board was interested in several options that might lower that increase.

The schools are self insured, unlike the town, which switched to a fully funded insurance several years ago. Finance board member Michael Carter pointed out that the town’s health insurance costs have remained relatively flat since making the change, while the school’s insurance costs have climbed steadily every year.

“What can we learn from their experience?” Mr. Carter asked.

Jo-Ann Keating, director of finance and operations for the schools, said she and the other administrators are in the process of analyzing bids from four health insurance providers — Anthem, Cigna, Aetna, and Health Net — which include quotes on both self insured and fully insured options. Only after that analysis is complete will the school board be able to make a decision about the best and most economical course of action, Dr. Keating said.

Reserve account

In the meantime, the district is looking at its internal services fund (sometimes called the health reserve account), which was set up to record health insurance revenues and expenses. The goal was to build the fund to adequate levels to be able to cover all insurance claims, she said. “We’ve been adding to it every year.”

Dr. Keating said the schools “originally agreed we would not use it to offset the budget.”

However, the school’s insurance advisor has said the school’s estimate of how high the reserve account should be next year may be higher than necessary.

“They felt fairly comfortable that we could go $600,000 lower,” Dr. Keating said.

Because of this, the Board of Selectmen strongly suggested the school board lower the reserve account by that amount. On Feb. 12, the selectmen voted to recommend a school budget of $44.26 million, about $870,000 less than the schools are requesting.

Finance board members agreed that lowering the proposed $764,000 health insurance increase by $600,000 would be a tremendous help.

Member Jerry Sargent warned, however, that if the money were simply used to offset the budget increase, it would simply defer the problem. “It could be a good one-time savings, but we would be dealing with this next year,” he said.

“The idea originally was to build up the kitty until we had enough money to absorb the conversion to fully funded insurance if we choose to do that,” Mr. Sargent added.

Salaries

The other largest budget increase driver is teacher and administrator salaries. Much of this increase — more than $896,000 — is due to contractual obligations.

Several board members asked if it would be possible to re-negotiate teacher contracts or to ask for a salary freeze, rather than just considering laying off staff as a way to cut salary costs.

Ellen Uzenoff, school board chairman, said entering into new negotiations (a contract was just agreed upon with the teachers’ union a few months ago) would be “opening a whole new can of worms,” and would likely cause more difficulties than it would solve.

“It’s important to know, we didn’t just negotiate [the new teachers contract], we went to arbitration,” she said. “We heartily pursued some prioritized important things for us as a school district,” and many of those would be jeopardized if negotiations were re-opened. The administration can’t just open portions of the contract to discussion, it would have to open up the whole thing and start over, Ms. Uzenoff said.

Mr. Sargent suggested that taking another look at the teachers contract might be worthwhile nonetheless.

“It’s possible we would find the town situation and the economic situation are a lot different” than when the initial negotiations took place, Mr. Sargent said, garnering applause from some of the 50 or so members of the public in attendance.

“This is clearly an issue,” said finance board member Melissa Koller. “There’s not a family in Weston that wouldn’t be happy to freeze [teacher] salaries.” But, she added, there must be a “decent probability” that it would be worth re-opening negotiations, and, she added, she doubts that exists.

Town example

Mike O’Brien, finance board chairman, said the school administration should perhaps follow the example of town leaders, many of whom voluntarily froze their salaries. They need to pay attention to upcoming contract negotiations, as well, he said.

Finance board member Dave Muller agreed. “We need to ask what kind of precedent we are setting now for any other contractual obligations we have in the coming school year.”

Mr. Muller went on to say that he, like many in town, is taking a salary cut this year. “I don’t like it personally, but I think it has to be looked at across the board. But,” he added, “I’m concerned about spending another $30,000 [in legal fees] to open up negotiations.”

Mr. O’Brien said because of state laws about arbitration, “the odds are stacked against us 2-1 in winning out.” But, on the other hand, “we need to stem the growth rate in salaries somehow,” he said.

Mr. Sargent said the schools must have some options, though, including the possibility of voluntary or negotiated salary freezes. “I’d like some commitment that we’ll look at [salaries] again... I really want to push on that.”

TV studio

Over the course of the nearly three-hour meeting, the finance board asked about other areas of the budget in which savings might be realized.

One was a $35,000 request for a TV studio at Weston High School. Superintendent Belair said the studio was part of the high school auditorium renovation project completed in December. The space is already built, and the Weston Education Foundation has already agreed to help with funding, but the school “needs to live up to its commitment,” Mr. Belair said.

Mr. Carter asked the board to find out how many Weston students go on to be communications majors. If there are a lot, “it would be a good investment,” he said.

“There’s no question it would be useful,” Ms. Koller said. “The question is is this the year to do it?”

Per pupil expenditures

Board members also asked about Weston’s per pupil expenditures. Mr. Belair calculated that at $16,256, Weston’s per pupil costs are the highest in the District Reference Group (DRG-A), a group of comparable socio-economic school districts.

Mr. Belair identified four main reasons why Weston’s expenditures are so high when compared to other districts:

•    In other districts, many capital projects are bonded, so those costs are not included in the per pupil calculations, like they are in Weston;

•    Energy costs are high because Weston has several inefficient 50-year-old boilers;

•    Weston’s benefit costs are high;

•    The districts relatively small size plays into the per pupil cost, because expenses are divided among fewer students.

Tech budget

Mr. Carter questioned the schools’ technology budget, asking whether purchasing equipment might be cheaper in the long run than leasing.

Mr. Sargent suggested looking into net books and stripped down freeware as ways to save money.

There are about 1,200 computers throughout the district. Of those, approximately 91% are more than three years old and about 60% are more than five years old.
“Our purchase plan for replacement has been scaled way back,” Superintendent Belair said, but it would not be wise to get too far behind, he added.

The school board meets next on Monday, March 16. The finance board rescheduled its next meeting to Thursday, March 19, so that school administrators can return to the board with the answers to some of the questions raised on Wednesday.

A public hearing on the school and town budget is set for Tuesday, March 31.

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Weston's proposed budget: Some jobs eliminated, some salaries are frozen       
Weston FORUM
Written by Patricia Gay    
Thursday, February 26, 2009 

What a difference a year makes. Last year, most town employees received a 3.5% salary increase.

Reflecting the troubled economy, in the proposed 2009-10 town budget, non-union department heads will receive no wage increase. Town employees belonging to a union are budgeted at a 2.5% salary increase (although a new contract for 2009-10 has not yet been agreed upon), and four part-time positions have been cut from the budget. The first selectman has even taken a 2% salary cut.

Salary increases account for 38.6% of the $188,620 increase in the proposed 2009-10 town operating budget.

As of July 1, four part-time jobs will be eliminated — secretary to the fire marshal ($23,111), town hall “floater” ($17,091), benefits coordinator ($8,222), and town treasurer ($19,713).

The treasurer’s duties will be added to those of the finance director, adding $2,000 to the finance director’s salary; and 3.5 hours per week will be added to the finance assistant — making it a full-time position.

The town administrator’s salary of $117,335, reflects a step increase received in December 2008.

After the board of finance holds a public hearing and approves a final overall budget plan, the town and school budgets will be voted on at the Annual Town Budget Meeting on April 21.

Proposed salaries for Weston town employees in the 2009-10 budget:

Town Administrator $117,335

First Selectman $43,875

Selectmen’s Admin. Assistant $62,702

Finance Director $108,426

Payroll Accountant $58,662

Part-time Accounts Payable (.48) $23,307

Town Engineer $86,052

P&Z Admin. Assistant $48,015

General Maintenance $50,763

Tree Warden $1,000

Info. Systems Manager $72,214

Info System part-time help $7,000 (Records storage program)

Registrar (.25) $10,412 (x2)

Deputy Registrar (.05) $1,543 (x2)

Board of Finance Secretary $3,000

Tax Assessor $84,600

Assistant to Assessor (.70) $26,737

Tax Collector $71,855

Asst. to Tax Collector (.75) $35,996

Town Clerk $71,855

Asst. Town Clerk $45,222

Zoning Enforcement Officer $56,062

Land Use Director (.53) $41,343

Conservation Planner (.85) $47,540

Building Inspector $71,621

Building Admin. Asst. $43,795

Building Committee Secretary $1,200

Chief of Police $96,791

Lieutenant/Captain $2,575 salary differential*

Police Secretary $49,422

Police Sergeant $86,600 (x2)

Police Sergeant (vacant) $11,473 differential

Police Detective $79,199

Police Officer $74,017 (x10)

Police Officer $68,219

Fire Dept. Secretary $11,784

Fire Marshal (.47) $30,010

Animal Control Officer $43,526

Asst. Animal Control (.40) $17,168

Communications Center Managing Dispatcher $62,553

Senior Dispatcher $54,771

Dispatcher $52,384 (x2)

Dispatcher $49,867

Public Works Director $99,955

Foreman $69,695 (x2)

Spec. Equip. Operator Senior $63,725 (x2)

Senior Equip. Operator $63,725 (x2)

Senior Mechanic $68,842 (x2)

Maintainer $58,140

Transfer Station Operator $62,851

Transfer Station Operator $46,051

Conservation Planner (.80) $44,911

Wetlands Enforcement Officer (.20) $15,838

Recreation Director $86,005

Recreation Supervisor $53,985

Rec. Bookkeeper/Secretary $37,504

Rec. Summer Help $1,640

Parks/Fields Maintenance $37,734**

Field Employee (.50) $16,623**

Middle School Aquatics Director $41,751***

Pool technicians $1,948***

Lifeguards $18,450***

Social Worker (.73) $49,963

Part-Time Social Work Assistant (.37) $12,813

Director of Children and Youth $57,058   

Program Coordinator (.75) $31,550

Senior Center Director (.64) $31,285

Senior Center Van Driver $27,721

Senior Activities Assistant (.32) $9,469

Back-up Van Driver (.10) $2,666

Library Director $74,294

Senior Librarian $53,985

Children’s Librarian $48,015

Library Assistant $37,496

Library Assistant (.16) $6,214

Library Assistant (.30) $11,243

Library Assistant (.32) $10,234

Library Pages $11,602


Positions less than full-time are designated with a decimal percentage after the job title.

*This position is currently vacant.

**The town pays 30% and the schools pay 70% of these salaries.

***The town pays 60% and the schools pay 40% of these salaries.

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OTHER SELECTMEN BUSINESS FEB. 12th...
Director of Finance introduces individual who will operate the Custodial Agreement on G.A.S.B funds

THURSDAY, FEB. 12, 2009:  Board of Selectmen votes on the First Selectman's budget, Capital Budget;  recommends a number for Education budget and Education capital projects.

We watched it live and in person.  The room was packed with pro-cut and pro-no cut proponents.  Applause at times.

The individual Townside budget reductions already discussed were from:  Arts Commission, Veterans' Committee, Tree Warden, Assessor, Legal representation, litigation, Fire Department, SW Medical, Ravenwood Water System, SW Mental Health;  First Selectman reported that Town department heads agreed to no increases or steps;  Selectmen to forego stipend and First Selectman takes a 2.5% cut. 

Bottom line, we think, was a flat budget at $10,814,850;  Capital Budget number not final yet, but that is the intent there, too.

RECOMMENDATIONS ON SCHOOL BUDGET:  The school budget was set by the Board of Education at an increase of 2.62 (expected to go down to 2.5%) - or $1,154,289 more the FY09..

By Charter, the Board of Selectmen cannot touch the school budget - but they can let their feelings be known to the Board of Finance, and they did!  The Selectmen took a whack at the school budget, recommending  the following from the request for a $1,154,289 increase:  first came a suggestion to cut $600,00 (Bliss);  then the Board of Education found $51,000 to cut, making the amount, now expressed as an increase, of $503,289 (from the previously mentioned total over $1 million)..

At this point, everybody on the Board of Selectmen started to refer to the cuts as "increase over this past year's budget."  Why?  Because they were actually recommending a $700,000+ cut, and it looked as if the Selectmen didn't want the viewing public to realize that their number was so huge.

All Selectmen said to cut the $35,000 for fittings for the TV studio at the high school.  A few more cuts here and there were suggested, with a final agreed upon unanimously number of $44,260,000 plus $389,832 in capital expenses (from Kaestle-Boos Report).

All three Selectpersons noted the LWV of Weston "Speak Up" crowd and the overwhelming requests by young and old and inbetween to keep the budget level this year ("zero" increase).  NOTE:  "Speak Up" will be shown this weekend on Channel 79, hopefully beginning a continuious run after 12 noon Saturday, Valentine's Day.

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LWV of Weston SPEAK UP 2009 notes:
More than 200 in audience at Norfield Church Parish Hall on a nice day!

Q&A:  18 questions/statements total, 14 on the economy, 10 of which were directly noted to be school-budget related, 4 general;  other:  reassessment, flag procedure, need for cemetery and air traffic.  In the order that these questions werer asked:

1.    Reval:  how come assessment went up if nothing was done?
2.    Class size:  if it increases, familites will leave town.
3.    Taxes:  if taxes increase, no one will want to move here.
4.    School budget:  how about zero increase?  Questioned budget approach. (Superintendant of Schools and Vice-Chair. of the Board of Education answered;  Chair. of the Board of Finance as well - pointed out that the suggestion was actually the approach that had been taken.)
5.    School budget:  zero increase or people will have to move.
6.    School budget: "arrogance of denial" by administration to financial crisis.
7.    School budget:  other towns are cutting down on school expenses - can we?
8.    School budget:  what would it take to get to zero increase?  (Superintendent of Schools explained the 2.62% increase - which might go down when insurance contract bids come in - is only 0.3% for school program [$900k for insurance at present or estimated prices and $100k or more from reduced special education aid rate.)
9.    School budget:  supporter of schools says maybe the time is right to take another look at class size?
10.  School budget:  philosophic remark, well chosen words.
11.  Schools:  contract negotiations-binding arbitration question:  (All three Legislators responded, with different observations--short version, "not likely.")
12.  Budget general:  time for "Weston first" programs only?
13.  Flag:  it still flies 24/7 with no light at night-been asking for three years);  "no one seems to care."
14.  Financial melt down:  general observation of loss of wealth.
15.  Cemetery:  will we ever get one in town?  (First Selectman responds that he hasn't been able to find enough volunteers for yet another try at this - asks if the questioner would care to join...)
16.  FAA-air traffic-noise:  what's happening?  (First Selectman reports that 13 towns are employing the 2nd best attorney to fight the FAA - first best attorney taken by FAA - New York politicians are pushing the flyover routes in our direction, but recently the FAA officials in charge of that agency have been removed because of their bias...)
17.  Economy:  what will happen when there is  hyper inflation (after all the bail-out $$ kicks in)?  No answer.
18.  Economy:  needs v. wants - example of Food Pantry user increase.

CLOSING STATEMENT:  Moderator ends the meeting quoting Jefferson.  NOTE:  More discussion of where Weston is headed to take place, in a land use arena, on Feb. 26, 2009 (a Thursday) from 7:30pm to 9:30pm at Weston High School careteria.

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WEDNESDAY,  FEB. 4, 2009:  Board of Selectmen goes over School Budget.  We watch the first hour...and the very end.

Presentations by Board Chair. Ellen Uzenoff, describing how the Education budget building transpired;  Superintendent of School Belair gives full accounting of where the changes to style and substance are;  Director of Finance Keating answers questions about insurance bid process.  We watched for an hour on Town TV, noting that when the Selectmen noted that they thought the number of teachers in a particular grade was excessive, there was a smattering of applause.

Resuming watching @9:50pm, I was in time to hear the Selectmen congratulate the Director of Finance and the Superintendent on how understandable the document was this year; a member of the audience was permitted to speak and asked the Board of Ed and Selectmen if they had tried exploring other ways to get the cost of insurance down.
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TUESDAY, FEB. 3, 2009:  Play-by-play of First Selectman's budget as reviewed by the Board of Selectmen:  long, long meeting, bad night for driving...so we stayed home and watched the action on Town TV.  By the way, no increase for Channel 79.  High points:

INTRO WITH POWER POINT:  Grand list growth .7%;  current budget over by $167k (snow removal);  budget surplus still@$7.5+ million.  Helpful indicator of the Weston economy is the numbers on pools, cabanas and tennis court permits - down this year.  Collection rate projected at 97.7% (down) for the coming budget cycle.  Four part-time positions eliminated by July 1.  And a note:  collections at 95% for the recent tax bills.

QUESTIONS:  Do we have to pay for First Night?  Luncheon extras for Memorial Day?  Is there money for a Referendum (on the budget)?  GIS training?  Increase to legal fees? 

SPECIAL MEETING ON STRATEGY:  at the end of the long, long meeting, Selectmen decided to call a Special Meeting on Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 7:30pm in the Town Hall Meeting Room.  The reason is to hold an Executive Session on strategy on union negotiations--since the budget document requires that salaries for next year be reflected in tax bills to be sent out mid-year.

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Meetings held at Town Hall except for Board of Finance Public Hearing and ATBM.
Weston schedules times for new budget review       
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly    
Saturday, December 06, 2008 

Budget packages have been sent to all department heads in preparation for putting together next year’s town budget.  The following budget review schedule has been approved for Weston’s 2009-10 municipal budget. All meetings are open to the public.

From AARP FY08-09 study, above...previously, below...
State ranks 3rd in nation for most debt
CT POST
ROB VARNON
Article Last Updated: 07/31/2008 01:15:42 AM EDT

Is the frugal Yankee about to land on the endangered species list? According to a new survey, he or she could be joining the polar bears, as Connecticut ranked third in a national report on monthly credit card debt.

Boston-based Americans for Fairness in Lending released a report Wednesday on the median credit card debt per borrower by state.  Connecticut, with $2,039 in median debt, ranked third behind Alaska, with $3,384, and New Hampshire, with $2,109.  Massachusetts ranked 10th and Rhode Island was 15th. Vermont was the most frugal of the New England states, ranking 28, with median debt of $1,619.

Incomes somewhat correlated to the debt level as higher income states recorded higher debt levels. Connecticut in 2006 had the third highest household median income, with $63,422. Alaska had the seventh highest and New Hampshire the sixth. As some pointed out, a high debt level combined with high income isn't necessarily a sign of poor fiscal management.  Mississippi had the lowest median income in 2006 and also the lowest credit card debt of $1,098.

The Americans for Fairness in Lending is a lobby established by several consumer advocacy groups, some of which include community lenders.  The group wants to reregulate the credit card industry — banning certain fees and sudden jumps in interest rates. The group points to the rising level of credit card debt in America as partial proof that lending standards should be tightened to stop predatory lending that's leaving the most vulnerable part of our population drowning in debt.

Jim Campen, executive director and a doctor of economics, said lenders have instituted a number of practices that unfairly penalize lower income people and leave them in financial pits so deep it takes years for them to dig out. At the same time, the banks are profiting by continually whacking these people with higher interest rates and penalty fees.  He said many of these borrowers shouldn't have been given these loans in the first place.

"They're blaming consumers, but the banks should say no," he said. Since the banks aren't, Campen said Congress should force them to.

But the American Bankers Association, a lobby for major banks and lenders, including issuers of credit cards, said regulation isn't the answer, it will just add costs at a time when the economy is vulnerable to a slowdown.  Carol Kaplan, an ABA spokeswoman, said the free market will work things out. And if consumers don't like the practices of a card issuer they should go to another one. She said regulation will just increase the cost to lenders and tighten credit even further.

Kaplan pointed out that 40 to 50 percent of Americans pay their credit cards off monthly, so this is not a problem for all Americans.

Local economists said the report is out of date because debt levels have expanded well beyond the figures cited.  Edward Deak, a Fairfield University professor of economics, said the situation will continue to look worse and he's concerned there will be higher levels of credit card default because people are using their cards to cover expenses their incomes can't cover.  But Deak questioned whether it made sense to have Congress controlling spending or consumers.

Donald Klepper-Smith, chief economist of New Haven-based DataCorps Partners, said today's debt levels are well past what they were in 2006.  He said in 2006, people could still take equity lines of credit on their houses, but that line has been severed by the housing crisis. Because many houses are worth less than the mortgages on them, homeowners cannot take out credit against their equity.  Klepper-Smith said today's credit crisis is part of a system- wide problem with our consumer economy, where we've spent beyond our incomes. He noted the federal debt is so high, every man woman and child owes $30,000 on it.

"At some point, we have to start living within our means," Klepper-Smith said.

To do that, it will take national leadership to focus on investment rather than consumption, he said.  That means raising interest rates and creating an environment where it's more attractive for people and corporations to invest in new technology and infrastructure, the things that can drive job creation, he said.

While that transformation will take leadership at the very heights of power, Klepper-Smith said every American should be taking charge of his or her finances.

If they don't, he said, "They're living on borrowed time."

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Kids in Crisis may lose funds
Greenwich TIME
By Colin Gustafson, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/11/2009 11:16:25 PM EDT

At a time when its counseling services have grown all the more vital to financially distressed families, Kids in Crisis is bracing for the costly double whammy of losing state funding amid shrinking private donations.

Under the two-year budget proposed by legislative Democrats earlier this month, the Cos Cob-based family crisis center could lose all of the nearly $40,000 in annual state funding for its 24-hour crisis intervention and hotline program for families across lower Fairfield County.

Because these funds are allocated solely for the intervention and hotline program, the nonprofit organization won't be able to spread the losses out to the other services it offers, such as temporary shelters for children and one-on-one counseling, staffers said.  Compounding these difficulties is a projected $300,000 decline in private donations to Kids in Crisis that is expected to slice its overall budget from $5.2 million in the fiscal year 2007-08 to $4.9 million this fiscal year, according to Executive Director Shari Shapiro.

That's bad news for a nearly 40-year-old organization that, today, relies on charitable giving to pay for 63 percent of its operating budget.

"We have people who are very committed to us, but in tough economic times they're cutting back because they have no choice," she said, adding that the potential loss of state funds "is a blow on top of another blow."

The budget proposal, first presented by Gov. M. Jodi Rell in February, would also target more than $28,000 in funding for the Windham Regional Community Council Inc., one of the only other 24-hour crisis centers in the state. State lawmakers face a June 3 deadline to pass the budget, though political wrangling may drag out the process.

"It's always particularly hard when we have to cut services for kids," said state Rep. Lile Gibbons, R-Greenwich. "(But) to be fair, everything is on the table."

For Kids in Crisis, the loss of state funding would wipe out more than 11 percent of its roughly $350,000 budget for the hotline service and would likely force the center to lay off one of the four crisis counselors who answer the phones, Shapiro said.  That could put a strain on the roughly 60-person staff if employees who normally work with children staying at the Kids in Crisis shelter are pulled away from the job to fill the gap in the hotline service, she said.

The 24-hour hotline, she said, serves as a round-the-clock lifeline to children across the region, from infancy to age 17, suffering crises of abuse, neglect, homelessness and mental illness. The center has been receiving the state funding for more than 15 years, she added.  Crisis counselors receiving calls from children in severe distress often drive to their homes, sometimes as far as Ridgefield, to conduct a face-to-face "interventions" with families to resolve disputes on the spot, Shapiro said.

When children seek refuge voluntarily, or get referred by police, state social workers or schools, Kids in Crisis houses them in one of two 10-bed shelters, one for kids ages 12 and under, the other for teens ages 12-17.   Though headquartered in town, the center serves Stamford, New Canaan, Darien, Norwalk, Weston, Westport, Wilton and Ridgefield, and works with more than 70 agencies that help troubled families.  Now, as the economy sours and as families' anxiety over finances mounts, Shapiro says her organization is seeing a dramatic growth in demand for its services.

In fiscal year 2007-08, which ended in June, for example, counselors took more than 600 emergency calls on the 24-hour hotline and conducted nearly 200 in-person counseling sessions as follow-ups, she said. Nine months into this fiscal year, the number of calls and visits is about to surpass that tally.  On top of that, she said, more children are staying longer at the shelters, where 18 of the 20 beds are now typically filled, compared with about 15 beds, on average, that were filled at this time last year, she said.

Part of the reason, according to Shapiro: Many of the recent arrivals have had no place to go, having been left homeless after their families or families' landlords were foreclosed on.  With demand for emergency counseling on the rise, for rich and poor families, Democratic Selectman Lin Lavery says potential funding cuts and revenue losses would come at the worst possible time for both the center and the community it serves.

"We already know domestic abuse is on the rise across all economic lines," she said. "Without Kids in Crisis, there is no other place for children to go in the middle of the night."

Stuart Adelberg, president of the United Way of Greenwich, shares those concerns.

"The incredible value in the (24-hour) hotline is that a mental-health crisis can be handled immediately," said Adelberg, whose organization donated $62,168 to the center in July.

"A kid in a domestic-abuse situation does not want to be told to call in the morning.

"Sometimes there's no guarantee they're going to call again."

Reassessment (click to go to our analysis of previous full reval)

• DONE!
  
• Read this message from our Assessor (earlier in the process) about how the process works here.
• "About Town" has been watching this subject through the years (not just in Weston) and it is tied to an understanding of the Property Tax. 
  
• The State of Connecticut has also studied this matter many times,
  
• as have others.

What we would highlight from the tape is the suggestion that the 4 schools make sure to communicate with one-another, that all three administrators were new to us (altho' we realize that Dr. Ribbons was and is presently Hurlbutt's Principal).  Our prediction:  the Board of Finance is going to need much more detail than what is available now to satisfy themselves that the taxpayers are getting their money's worth.  But maybe we are wrong!

More research was done between workshop #1 and workshop #2 to provide "apples to apples" comparisons between Weston and the other systems in ERG 'A' - not abvailable to the general public yet, so we will do our own research...

NOTE: Board of Education Workshop #1, Tuesday, January 4, 2005 (7pm Weston Public Library)
PROPOSED WORKING DRAFT NOT DISTRIBUTED BECAUSE, AMONG OTHER REASONS, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS CONSERVING PAPER - the information below is thus in no way to be considered formal or accurate, and it definitely will change anyway, because even if it were perfect, the Board of Education will not approve it as-is (they never do give 100% approval to staff recommendations)..."About Town" attended first budget public meeting on overall school budget for FY '05-'06 and found out the following (what we heard, since nothing in writing was distributed):
 

Total systemwide budget proposed by staff is $38,049,656, or a 9.85% increase.  Enrollment is now 2535. For the 2005-2006 school year, for which the new budget is being drawn up, there is expected to be an increase of 10 students, for an estimated total of 2545.  This represents for 4 schools the following enrollments:
Pre-K - 2 = 581, or plus 17
3-5 = 567, or minus 15
6-8 = 632, or minus 11
9-12 = 734, or plus 19