At budget vote, a sense of appreciation

CORNWALL — A brief discussion before the approval of the 2010-11 town and education budgets was more about the philosophies of spending than about the actual numbers.

That’s only partially because the numbers have remained up in the air as health insurance rates were renegotiated, and state aid wavered.

There were no questions from the two dozen taxpayers who attended the meeting about a total local spending plan of just over $6 million.

“No frills� was how First Selectman Gordon Ridgway described the selectmen’s budget. The coming year’s anticipated spending is down a bit from this year’s. The fiscal year begins July 1.

“We decided it was very important to preserve the services people need and expect, and to be able to do it with fewer expenditures,� he said, summing up the efforts of his board and the town departments. “We tried to give something extra to support some town organizations and to do some things that really need to be done.�

Hector Prud’homme later commented that he was “terrifically pleased� to see the increase in organizational support for “a long list of charitable organizations that are trying to make life in this town better.�

The local school budget will rise by 1.93 percent and the town’s Region One assessment by 3.72 percent (the six towns in the regional school district share costs based on the total number of students).

Overall education spending is up by more than $98,000 — most of that due to contractual increases.

While this budget reflects a drop in the number of Cornwall students attending the high school, the total student population has dropped. That pushes up the percentage each town has to pay. Another way to look at it is the lower student total creates a higher per-pupil cost.

Cornwall Consolidated School Board of Education Chairman Becky Hurlburt noted the solar energy system now in operation at the school. Both money-saving and educational benefits are expected to come of it. The system was earned through Cornwall residents’ purchases of energy from renewable resources.

“We should really thank each other for it,� she said.

Finance board Chairman Ralph Gold extended his board’s thanks to the selectmen and school board members for maintaining services while keeping costs under control.

“Cornwall is in better shape than some of the surrounding towns, as well as the state and federal government,� Gold said, “and I’d like to keep it that way.�

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