Bing Presents School Budget to Council

School Superintendent Jason Bing presented a working 2012-13 budget for review to the town council last night saying, "It was a very tough budget cycle."

Bing’s presentation was a recap of the March 24 BOE public hearing, where he said homeowners with an average assessment of $280,300 would have to pay $244.17 more in taxes, or about $20 more per household per month, according to the proposed budget.

He said the majority of the school district’s fund balance was depleted last year in an effort to achieve the budget’s zero balance.  That will not be possible year.

Bing said the district had struggled in 2011 with statutes that the state mandated but didn't fund.  An example was the Anti-Bullying Act implemented this year that cost schools districts between $10,00-40,000 in administrative fees and staff training.

In addition, Bing noted, “The state has admitted it underfunded the Bloomfield school district by $16+ million for the past three years.”  He urged taxpayers to write to their local representatives to protest.

Currently, Bloomfield teachers’ salaries and benefits are below average statewide.

“Taxes comprise roughly 74% of our operating budget,” said School Business Administrator Michael Derderian who spoke to the council following Bing's presentation. 

“We were fortunate enough to receive a 7% increase of state aid, which translated to $1.3 million,” said Derderian.  “A debt service fund we refinanced --2002 bonds for Bloomfield High School -- was funded by taxes and $200,000+ in state aid.  So overall our budget is up 1.77%.”  He said the tax levy had been increased by 1.65%.

Bing listed some of the cost-saving measures implemented this year by the school district, such as an energy audit that he hoped would save 30-35% of energy costs, a special education audit and a "comprehensive position audit" that would review every position and job description within the district. 

High school students would be required to re-register in the coming school year, he said, to make sure that the district was providing services to Bloomfield residents only.

Bing also touched on some overall improvements currently being implemented within  the district.  To read more about the District Improvement Plan (DIP) and an overview of the 2012-13 budget presented at the  March 24 BOE meeting, click

Other business

The council voted to appoint Nicole Williams to the Parking Authority.  All voted yes except Councilmen Bernard Hamilton and Nicholas Joanow, who abstained.  Though Mayor McCarthy has objected to Parking Authority appointments in recent weeks, he voted yes to Williams.  

Proclamations:

• National Days of Remembrance
• National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day
• Autism Spectrum Disorder – Month of April 2012