State aid is down

CORNWALL — As local boards begin putting together proposals for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, it is becoming apparent that planning will not be much more than a defensive maneuver against assaults from a variety of sources.

Foremost is the state budget, which is underfunded by about $500 million this year.

First Selectman Gordon Ridgway and Selectman Richard Bramley spent two days last week in meetings at the state capital, finding out how much state aid might be expected in this and the coming year.

“If there’s good news,� Ridgway told the Board of Finance at its Jan. 21 meeting, “it’s that we’ve been cut back so much by the state before that we’re not very dependent on it.�

For both the municipal government budget and the Cornwall Consolidated School budget, maintaining the status quo is the goal. In other words, boards are not planning to increase spending and are hoping not to decrease it.

On the positive side of the ledger, the books can finally be closed on the school renovation project. The final reimbursement from the state has been received.

Money  not coming in

However, that is one of the few state grants that have met budgeted expectations.

Education grants are only at about 21 percent to date, with just $18,288 coming in to date — against a promised $85,969.

The overall average for 13 grants is currently a little less than half of the expected $258,436.

Local Capital Improvement  Project (LoCIP) funds from the state, which are often used for infrastructure work and road maintenance, have been cut dramatically in recent years.

Still, the $33,000 expected here will be hard to do without.

Ridgway reported to the finance board that Gov. M. Jodi Rell made an announcement Jan. 20 confirming that the state will go out to bond to raise LoCIP funds.

“The good news there is that we’re getting the money,� Ridgway said. “The bad news is we’ll be paying for it [with interest] for the next 20 years.�

Impact on education costs

Also attending the finance meeting in Cornwall were Region One Business Manager Sam Herrick, Superintendent Patricia Chamberlain, Cornwall Region One Board of Education representative Phil Hart, and Region One Board Chair Judge Manning.

Herrick gave an overview of what is expected to happen with the three regional education budgets (forthe high school, the central office and pupil services/special education).

Current projections, driven mainly by a health-insurance premium increase, indicate that the budgets will likely go up by 3 percent or more.

The biggest impact locally hinges on the number of students sent to Housatonic Valley Regional High School from each of the six regional towns. Per-pupil costs are nearing $20,000. Thirteen Cornwall students are expected to graduate from the high school in June; but the same number is expected to enroll as freshmen in September, keeping Cornwall’s costs there on an even keel.

Herrick said Cornwall’s share of budget increases at the high school should be about $60,000.

The town is also expected to be levied an additional $15,000 to cover increases for the central office and about $1,000 for Pupil Services.

There was discussion of an early-retirement incentive offered to teachers at the high school. Herrick said that of the 21 teachers who qualify, nine have expressed an interest. Four to five are expected to accept the offer.

This type of incentive is often used to cut salary and benefit costs. The faculty members with the most seniority are at the top of the pay scale.

Normally, these veteran teachers are replaced with newer teachers at the lower end of the pay scale.

However, the student population has been steadily decreasing, and Herrick said it likely that new teachers will not be hired to replace those who retire.

Finance member Earl Brecher asked how the plan might impact specific departments.

Superintendent  Chamberlain said some positions might have to be restaffed if a program is put in jeopardy (for example, if a department only has a single teacher).

Herrick stressed that, at this point, the school does not have to consider  cutting programs.

A more likely scenario is that certain programs would have a reduced staff. The English department, for example, had seven teachers when the enrollment was more than 600. Now that there are just over 500 students, staffing could be reduced. Projections put enrollment in the coming years as low as 425 students.

Manning noted that the family and computer science program (with home economics-type classes) was eliminated this year, but there are no plans for further cuts.

“We have a choice of increasing class sizes somewhat,� Manning said. “Otherwise, we are going to end up having to eliminate programs, and that’s something we don’t want to do.�

Latest News

Water main cleaning in North Canaan

NORTH CANAAN – Aquarion Water Company today announced a water main cleaning project in the company’s North Canaan system. The project is scheduled to take place from Monday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 16, and is being undertaken to ensure customers in North Canaan continue to receive the highest quality water.

The cleaning for April 1 and April 4 (subject to change) will take place on the following streets:

Keep ReadingShow less
Tuning up two passions under one roof

The Webb Family in the workshop. From left: Phyllis, Dale, Ben and Josh Webb, and project manager Hannah Schiffer.

Natalia Zukerman

Magic Fluke Ukulele Shop and True Wheels Bicycle Shop are not only under the same roof in a beautiful solar powered building on Route 7 in Sheffield, but they are also both run by the Webb family, telling a tale of familial passion, innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability.

In the late ‘90s, Dale Webb was working in engineering and product design at a corporate job. “I took up instrument manufacturing as a fun challenge,” said Dale. After an exhibit at The National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim, California, in 1999, The Magic Fluke company was born. “We were casting finger boards and gluing these things together in our basement in New Hartford and it just took off,” Dale explained. “It was really a wild ride, it kind of had a life of its own.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert Cray’s soulful blues coming to Infinity Hall

Robert Cray

Photo provided

Blues legend Robert Cray will be bringing his stinging, funky guitar and soulful singing to Infinity Hall Norfolk on Friday, March 29.

A five-time Grammy winner, Cray has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and earned The Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance. He has played with blues and rock icons including Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and many more.

Keep ReadingShow less