Hebron Dollars & Sense

We NEED this new topic because school budgets are the "driving force of our town budget. I still find it so interesting that the 09-10 budget came in JUST UNDER the 3% recommendation by the board of Finance at 2.99%. Wish the BOF asked for a zero or less than 1% cap.

Most parents want the BEST for their children and few are willing to challenge a "certified" educator requests. These superintendents, specialists and teachers are suppose to know what works and what is best for the students. If that premise is true, how do we explain (1) the reality of both excellent and poor educators in every state - yet both are certified; (2) the past successes of one-room school houses; (3) and the existence of "home-schools" at a kitchen table (without the need for "age-appropriate" or NEW furniture like the $5000 expended in our town for the kindergarten). We signed off on a "curriculum" specialist last year .. does that imply that ONCE the curriculum is set up and finalized, this individual is no longer needed on staff?? So many questions ... are there answers without a SPIN?!?

Here is the link to the current proposed budget .. check it out and let the discussion begin!
www.hebron.k12.ct.us/uploaded/Hebron_Dis...Proposal_2009-10.pdf

Look for "interesting" line items: textbooks [6410] - requested/expended dollars for the last 3 years. This reminds me of the phone book deliveries at our home every year -- one difference these phone books are FREE!!; Transportation costs [5905] for staff and the superintendent (I guess to offset the drive from Gilead to Church street!!).

Mombert, They Iz 2 Chickin in dis town to put forth a ZERO BASED BUDGET!!!!

Admin High,Base Low, You due Da Math:P

Cowards 2 duh Truth They are, ju$t Covering Their Sorry $ixe$

Have You seen Anyone In Hebronbury Admin Offer a Concession/Give Back?
It shows who They are thinking about

The budget you linked to was the 12/18 prelim budget.

The most recent proposed budget was modified from this, but they still came in at the 2.99% suggested by the BOF guidance.

In a couple of different board meetings in January, the HBOE made adjustments to this version, and unanimously agreed to the new budget. It has not been placed online to my knowledge yet, but it has been given to the BOF for their review/discussion and forwarding to the BOS for inclusion with the town budget which goes to referendum.

Auntie: your comments are true and we all know the process. My point is "where are the challenges/questions" for the budget? My other comment was a backhanded statement that no one should be intimidated by the budget presentation to the board and that the "educators" do not know "what is best" for the child ALL THE TIME. Be sure to post the link to the most "recent" proposed budget.

We all use "handles" on here. I am a retired senior citizen with grown children. We no longer have kids in the school system. My interest in this budget is the impact on my taxes. I support public school education and ALL I am asking is that the requests be reasonable!! The administration needs to distinguish between "wants and needs".

Look at some of the line items I mentioned. Even with simplistic math of 4 weeks/month, the $4800 for the superintendent travel introduced in the 08-09 year equates to $100/week. The web site (with electronic documents) should be cutting into the figures for postage, printing, binding, paper supplies - yet, the numbers look about the same. Textbook figures spent in 07-08, proposed and expended in 08-09 and again proposed in 09-10 keep creeping up (pg 18 of the budget PDF file). My other fear is that once something is slipped into a budget and approved it seems like it is perpetuated forever.

Most State agencies across our nation face similar problems. They also use the "we must have, cannot exist without this new program argument". The fiscally sound budget office often responds with: "WHAT are you willing to eliminate or trim down in order to have this new program approved? If the request is for 0.05% and the department can locate a savings or eliminate something for 0.05% the NEW PROGRAM IS APPROVED WITH NO CHANGE TO THE BOTTOM LINE. This tactic should be used in town!

No Politics (NP): ? Guess and win a prize ? Priceless!!

Just read your reason for the edit and I am still laughing. That was great. It looks like you removed a few Emoticons. You can leave my doughnut at the counter in town ... I won, right?

Nope, You lose On this One;)

Had A Word Or 4 Spelled That Could Be Taken SEVERAL Ways When I Had Some Adult Beverages In Me:woohoo: & Thought Better Of A Few Of Them Awhile Later

NO DOUGHNUT For You, But Appreciate Your CommentsB)