Hebron Dollars & Sense

By David Huck
Journal Inquirer
Published: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 11:56 AM EST

HEBRON — The Board of Education has adopted a $12.01 million budget for 2012-13 that includes an expansion of all-day kindergarten.

The spending plan represents a 1.85 percent increase, or $218,373, over the current year’s $11.79 million budget. In December, Superintendent Eleanor Cruz presented a $12.25 million budget proposal that sought $458,473 more in spending but recently revised the recommendation to make it more “palatable to the community,” she said.

Voting against the plan were Republicans Amy Lynch-Gracias and Dominic Marino.

Health insurance costs are up 22 percent or $265,000, and teachers will get 4.43 percent raises next year. The budget also accounts for a loss of $176,000 in federal education jobs money. There are no staff layoffs under the proposal.

Enrollment in the town’s two schools is expected to drop by 8.5 percent, or 89 students, from 1,047 students to 958 next school year.

Eight early retirements — of which only one will be filled — and a reduction of the director of special education’s position from full-time to three days a week will bring some of the savings to carry out the kindergarten expansion. Cruz said she would assume the responsibilities of the special education director for the other two days of the week.

“There’s nothing being sacrificed for all-day kindergarten,” Cruz said. Current staff will teach the added sections, she said, and the school system already has materials, supplies, and furniture to support the program.

Interesting look at test scores ... the State, Hebron and Marlborough.  Marlborough's school budget has been FLAT FUNDED for three years, they have a half time Superintendent, one Principal and an Assistant principal who wears two hats - she is also Director of Special Education.  Isn't this a great argument that throwing more money into a school does NOT equate to better test scores (testing is used to check on the progress of students).

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To Residents of Hebron:

Last year, Hebron taxpayers reluctantly agreed to an approximate 4.5% tax increase because the Board of Finance made a convincing argument in May 2011 that our community “does not have a spending problem; we have a revenue problem.”    

In July 2011, the new Governor and Democratic-controlled Connecticut legislature passed a series of new tax increases, including a state payroll tax retroactive to January 1, 2011, double-dipping our paychecks for the last six months to make up the retroactive tax difference.

This year, Hebron appears to have a spending problem.  We may still have a revenue problem, that has yet to be revealed, but at a minimum, with the Board of Education’s addition of all day kindergarten and their almost 2% increase in budget, despite significant decline in student enrollment in the past six years, doesn’t anyone hear the toll of warning bells?

All day kindergarten is not mandated by the State of Connecticut.  I remember hearing the same threats of “it’s coming any day now” way back in 2006 when I was a BOF member.  

It’s great in Gold Coast towns where you say to your neighbors, “OK, you’re rich; I’m rich; let’s fulfill all the pipe dreams ‘cuz we’re swimming in dough.”  

But this is Hebron.  The vast majority of us are NOT swimming in dough; we’re drowning in debt.  

With a $700K debt reduction from the sewer project (that mortgage is finally paid and over), and a decline in elementary student population (FY 2006-07 was 1,226 students and projected enrollment for FY 2012-13 is 958 students, a net loss of 268 students), I personally won’t support any tax increase this year.

I will support a tax decrease.  

It appears we have a spending problem in our already cash-strapped community.  And guess why?  Nothing will change until you VOTE.