Shelton board seeks details on school bus service budget
Brian Gioiele
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City of Shelton school buses parked in Shelton, Conn. June 7, 2018.Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media
SHELTON The city is responsible for student transportation at a set cost of $3.15 million to be covered by the Board of Education.
But are schools getting the right bang for the buck?
That’s the question asked recently by Democrat Board of Apportionment and Taxation members at its recent workshop examining Mayor Mark Lauretti’s proposed 2021-22 budget.
His proposed $128.2 million spending plan is a $43,728 increase from the present year.
“The city has created a department … but they do not have detailed line items reflected in the budget,” A&T member Michelle Laubin said at the workshop. “That’s not OK.”
Envision Shelton candidates enter aldermen election fray
Brian Gioiele
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Envision Shelton, now a slate committee in the city, has announced its candidates for Board of Aldermen on the November ballot. The candidates are, left to right, Amanda Kilmartin (Ward 4), incumbent David Gidwani (Ward 1), Michelle Laubin (Ward 4), Matt McGee (Ward 3), Michele Bialek (Ward 2) and Chris Jones (Ward 3).Envision Shelton / Contributed photo
SHELTON Competition is already heating up for Board of Aldermen seats on the November ballot.
Envision Shelton, which began as a bipartisan political action committee last September, filed paperwork Tuesday to become a slate committee.
The group then immediately put forth candidates for each ward, challenging the fully Republican eight-person Board of Aldermen.
Shelton Apportionment & Taxation board passes unchanged budget to Aldermen
Brian Gioiele
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Exterior of Shelton City Hall, in Shelton, Conn. Jan. 11, 2021.Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media
SHELTON Democrat Board of Apportionment and Taxation members’ attempts to add more money to the mayor’s proposed education budget failed and the original plan is now with the aldermen.
A&T failed, with two tie votes along party lines, to approve any recommendations to Mayor Mark Lauretti’s proposed 2021-22 fiscal year $128,225,767 city budget, a $43,728 increase from the proposed spending plan.
If the mayor’s budget is approved as proposed, the mill rate would be 22.03, a 1.74 reduction. The proposed spending plan projects a 98.85 percent tax collection rate, according to Finance Director Paul Hiller.
Shelton schools superintendent says district cannot afford further cuts
Brian Gioiele
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Exterior view of the Board of Education offices in Shelton, Conn. Nov. 5, 2020.Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media
School officials are calling on city leaders to cover $1.1 million in expected contractual costs for next year or see staff cuts the district cannot afford.
Superintendent Ken Saranich, flanked by central office staff and Board of Education Chair Kathy Yolish, made their budgetary plea late last week at City Hall to the Board of Apportionment and Taxation and the Board of Aldermen.
“Our budget is all about sustainability … we’re not asking for additional staff, not asking for additional programs. We are just asking for no further cuts,” Saranich said.