Teacher retirements might be needed to keep budgets down

NORTH CANAAN — Local budget-makers have a few more weeks to put together proposed spending plans for fiscal 2010-11. The new fiscal year will begin July 1.

Both the Board of Selectmen and school board are scheduled to present plans to the Board of Finance the last week of March.

While it would seem there is little more to be done than hold the line on spending increases, town and school officials are also laboring under the shadow of state budget woes.

The state has advised that aid to towns will not be cut as deeply as anticipated in the coming year. But the governor has yet to present a balanced budget for this year, and part of the plan to maintain aid is to borrow against future revenues. Aid in the following year, and for who knows how long after, is expected to be sparse.

In a brief interview, First Selectman Douglas Humes would only say his board continues to work on the municipal budget.

The school board is looking at a proposal by the teacher’s union for an early-retirement incentive.

Eight teachers at North Canaan Elementary School are eligible under the plan. Seven are full-time, and make at least $73,870. All but one have health insurance coverage that costs between $10,000 and more than $25,000 annually. There is potential for significant savings.

Typically, the savings come when retiring teachers are replaced by newer teachers at the lower end of the pay scale. But with a significantly declining student population, there is the possibility that some or all retiring teachers will not be replaced.

The Board of Selectmen is scheduled to present a budget proposal to the Board of Finance March 23. The Board of Education is tentatively scheduled for March 24. A public hearing will be held April 21.

Combined budgets will be put to a vote at a town meeting May 18. All meetings are held at Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.

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