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Community Corner

Bethany Residents Get Chance to Comment on Budget Proposal Monday

Letter from Board of Education explains a fourth-straight flat education budget

Bethany taxpayers will get a chance to comment on the proposed budget for 2012-13 at a meeting of the Board of Finance Monday evening.

The budget plan carries a 1.7% mill rate increase. The town is expecting to see over $12,000 more in state education grants next year over this year. Education expenditures account for about $15,000 of the $20.8 million budget. The town's contribution to the Amity Regional School District is set to increase by $152,000 to $8,591.647.

According to the proposal, the elementary school budget will remain flat at $6,276,791 for the fourth straight year. The school board asked for a 2.4% increase of $150,426, but was denied. In response, the Bethany Board of Education wrote an open letter to the public, stating the Board of Finance's decision, "will not permit us to address these needs, and will require us to cut existing services – meaning either larger class sizes, or cutting back on educational programs like Spanish, after-school programs, the enrichment program, art, or music."

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As the letter explains, the Board of Education requested the addition of two new positions: a math curriculum specialist and a new computer instructor. The school board also proposed growing the school's Project Choice enrollment from five to 15 children, "netting the school approximately $70,000 in state grants." That money would be used to cover the two new positions. Since the expansion of the Open Choice program would require some expansion of services, the Board of Education opted not to expand the program. The full letter is available here.

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