By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — Superintendent of Schools Harvey B. Polansky said Wednesday that the school system would have to reduce both staff and programs and will look at all options, including whether to close a school, in light of the Board of Finance cutting $2.1 million from proposed school spending.
The Finance Board voted Tuesday night to reduce the Board of Education’s proposed budget from $82.9 million, to $80.83 million, which still gives the school system a 3.7 percent increase. Polansky, however, said the district requires a 5.46 percent increase simply to maintain current services in the next fiscal year.
“This puts us in a very difficult situation,” Polansky said Wednesday. “Now we’re cutting staff and programs. We cannot absorb this magnitude of a cut. Every program and staff member is on the table. Staff will be reduced with this magnitude of cuts.”
Polansky said he and school board leaders will sit with aldermen and try to convince that panel to restore money to the proposed budget. If none of the cuts are restored, he said, the administration and school board would have to look at eliminating programs, and even closing buildings.
“Everything will be looked at,” Polansky said.
He said he understands a tough economy makes it hard for municipalities to increase budgets, but without the money, class sizes will increase, which the board opposes.
Aldermanic Chairman Ben Blake, D-5, offered Polansky, school board members and parents some hope that aldermen might look at restoring some money to proposed school spending.
“At first glance, some of the Board of Finance recommendations seem extreme,” Blake said. “We’ll do a review of the Board of Education’s need, and the needs of the entire city.”
Blake also vowed there would be some additional cuts on the city side of the budget.
Board of Finance Chairman Jack Skudlarek said Polansky’s budget presentation was one of the most comprehensive and complete he’s ever seen, and he was sure the board needs every bit of the money requested. But he said he felt something must be done to curb the spiraling cost of education.
But Joanne Rohrig, R-1, the school board’s minority leader, said, “I understand we need to be responsible to the taxpayers. At the same time, this is absolutely detrimental to the school system.”
“This will affect our programs, activities, and affect class size,” she said.
Rohrig said she would remain optimistic that the aldermen will reinstate funds cut by the Finance Board.
Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said further cuts to the budget would likely result in a reduction in city services, which he would not support.
“The Board of Aldermen has their work cut out for them,” he said. “I don’t know how we could get (the budget) lower than it is now and still maintain city services.”
The Finance Board approved a $175.42 million budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year, which represents a 3.7 percent increase from the current budget. The proposed budget would set the tax rate at 28.63 mills. The current tax rate is 31.77 mills. On average, a resident can expect his or her taxes to increase by 3.25 percent, but the exact increase is tough to calculate because Milford is phasing in its revaluation.
Register reporter James Tinley contributed to this story.