Submitted by John Fisher, out-going PTA Council President. The views expressed here are strictly my own.
I, and hundreds of other concerned citizens, watched in absolute dismay as six members of the BET slashed $4,048,621 from the proposed schools operating budget. ¹
The proposed BOE/GPS budget was carefully detailed, carefully itemized, diligently and thoroughly supported by facts and data and documented academic outcomes. The $4.05 million reduction to the proposed budget had none of that.
Those BET members want to have it both ways as they attempt to rationalize that $4.05 million reduction. They said the BET doesn’t tell the BOE/GPS where to make cuts, the BET’s hands are clean, it’s the BOE/GPS who will be making whatever draconian cuts they find necessary.
Moments later those same BET members identified exactly where they want those cuts: get rid of 20+ teachers; hire the lowest-cost fresh-out of-college teachers; impose “discipline” to block teaching professionals – most of whom have professional qualifications equivalent to those of lawyers, engineers, CPAs, MBAs, including those on the BET – from taking sick days and personal time off that are included in their professional contracts.
Those BET members know the inevitable consequences of cutting 20 teachers (or more): fewer classes; more crowded classes; degraded educational quality and experiences that will hurt Greenwich students for years and years.
Those BET members know the HR consequences: Greenwich will not be able to attract and retain the best teachers.
BET members expressed concerns about the burden of higher taxes on lower income residents.
Certainly, everyone shares those concerns. But there are more effective policy tools available to address affordability than the mill rate. Greenwich could expand the existing tax relief program for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. ²
The BET could add funding for the Greenwich Affordable Housing
Trust, which has been championed by the First Selectman as an alternative to statute 8-30g. ³
Those BET members have proclaimed that “compromises were offered” but “the other party refused.”
The fact is, the party that has the BET Chair position could have passed any reduction amount, from $0 to the “compromises” floated in discussion, but they voted to reduce by $4.05 million.
The net result from all the cuts the BET made is that the mill rate will go up by 2.81% (pending RTM approval). If the BET restores that $4.05 million to the schools budget, the mill rate would increase by just 3.76% – not the “nearly 6% tax increase” that some BET members decried4 and some local media amplified5 before the BET Decision Day.
The difference is just $136 in additional property taxes on a median value home (market value $1,753,200, assessed value $1,227,240).
Do the math. Show your work: $136 ÷ 365 days = 37¢
The BET can reconsider and increase the schools budget anytime before May 5th. I urge them to do that, for the sake of 8,500 children.
John Fisher
The views expressed here are strictly my own.
1 From Walkouts to Tax Hikes: Inside Greenwich’s $500 Million Budget Debate (Greenwich Sentinel)
BET Cuts $4.1 Million from Greenwich Schools: Audience Chants “Shame on you” (Greenwich Free Press)
Greenwich Town Hall erupts after finance board cuts school funding: ‘Shame on you!’ (Greenwich Time)
Greenwich BET Budget Vote Sparks Anger With $4M Reduction To Schools (Greenwich Patch)
2 https://www.greenwichct.gov/1390/Credits-Benefits
3 Barolak & Camillo: Affordable Housing Trust Fund is Win-Win
Greenwich officials want affordable homes for teachers, firefighters: ‘These are your own people’
4 BET Republicans: BET Democrats Abandon Budget Talks
5 Editorial: The Arithmetic of Evasion