Letter to the Editor: Budget

By Bill Michael

Last May Bethel school officials emphasized a tiny 1.2% increase in school spending to garner voter approval. It worked – the budget passed by 300 votes. 

At that time, the Bethel Action Committee disclosed the inconvenient truth that school spending was really increasing by 2.59% and criticized the school administration for excluding the $476,000  Education Jobs Grant (a gift to the teachers union from the President and Congress) in the way they calculated the spending increase. We warned that the one year federal "gift" should not be used to help implement a permanent program like All Day Kindergarten because the costs would eventually become the responsibility of local taxpayers. 

Think of how many times this proposed budget has been described as "budget neutral' and "status quo" in order to reassure taxpayers that costs are being contained. 

The April 4th budget hearing revealed that since the recession started, student enrollment has DECREASED by about 8% and and that the total per pupil spending is now at $13,177! Supporters of this budget perceive that this money is essential for student achievement and well-being. With roughly 85% of this amount consumed by staff salaries and benefits, the real beneficiaries here are not the students. 

Keeping this in mind, are raises for Bethel's 15.45 administators currently costing nearly $2.5 million in salaries and benefit really necessary to achieve academic excellence in the schools? Nearly one-third of the $1.6 million (4.4%0) increase in proposed school spending makes up for the loss of the Federal Jobs Grant. There is nothing “status quo” or “budget neutral” about the impact of this budget on local taxpayers. Vote No - Too High on Thursday May 17th.

Billy Michael

27 1/2 Fleetwood Avenue

Bethel CT 06801

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By John Opinski

The April 24, 2012 Newstimes Online Edition column entitled, "No money for libraries? That's criminal!" and published in the Bethel local section seems to more appropriately fit the Opinion section. The author, Kendal Rautzhan, writes under the impression that funding for books could be endangered by budgetary concerns during tough economic times. It is unclear how the author gained this impression but it is encouraging that an offering children's books in the Bethel Public Library is mentioned.

What Kendal Rautzhan may be unaware of is public sentiment in Bethel concerning a March 29, 2012 closed door meeting by the Bethel Executive Committee of the Board of Directors which was announced just a little over 24 hours prior to the meeting. In the meeting, the Board voted as follows:

"...Ms Kahn made a motion seconded by Ms Bickford to recommend to the Library Board of Directors that full time staff receive 2 additional paid personal days for 2012-13FY. Motion passed unanimously.

Ms Kahn made a motion seconded by Ms Bickford to recommend to the Library Board of Directors that part time staff receive a 15 increase in vacation time for 2012-13FY. Motion passed unanimously.

Ms Kahn made a motion seconded by Ms Bickford to recommend to the Library Board of Directors a change in Personnel Policy beginning 2013-14 FY to grant full-time staff two 2 Personal Days annually Motion passed unanimously.

Ms Kahn made a motion seconded by Ms Bickford to recommend to the Library Board of Directors consideration of a salary increase for the Library Director for a total of $2274.00 from line items to be determined by the Board and to authorize the Chair to discuss with the town Comptroller the effect if any the increase might have on benefits and payroll deductions Motion passed unanimously.

Ms Kahn made a motion seconded by Ms Bickford to authorize the Chair to approach First Selectman Knickerbocker regarding the Library Director's potential eligibility for the town's Post-retirement Medical Insurance Benefit Optional Program Motion passed unanimously.

Ms Kahn made a motion seconded by Ms Bickford to recommend to the Library Board of Directors that a one time two 2 week paid vacation be granted to Library Director Rosato after the completion of the Library Building Project Motion passed unanimously..." (source:http://www.bethelct.org/documents/On-Line_Documents/public_library/2012-03-29m%20sp.pdf).

The problem residents have is both the closed door forum of this meeting and the increase in salaries and benefits when money for books is assumedly tough to come by and at a time when Bethel property taxes were just increased over 3% and an additional property tax of over 3% is sought by the Bethel Administration. This problem is compounded by the decreases in income and property values that Bethel residents have experienced over the course of the current economic recession.

The Bethel residents have forgone employment, salary increases and benefits in recent years in order to support a growing town government and library. Is the Bethel Executive Committee of the Board of Directors willing to forgo its recent motions in favor of books? This would seem to address Kendal Rautzhan's problem quite well. The answer to that question does not lie in where money is appropriated from. It all comes from the people.

 Dr. John A. Opinski9 Waterhorse Brook DriveBethel, CT 06801johnopinski@comcast.net