State reimbursements could put $4M in Shelton coffers
Brian Gioiele
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SHELTON The city’s general fund could soon be about $4 million richer.
Superintendent Ken Saranich told the Board of Education at its virtual meeting Wednesday that he would be submitting the closeout paperwork for state reimbursement on four completed school construction projects, one of which was finished in 2011.
The figures are based on the state reimbursing an estimated 40 percent of the project costs.
The largest estimated return will come from the $23.4 million Shelton High School renovation finished in 2011. The renovation included upgrades to the locker rooms and library, as well as science labs on the fourth floor. The return is estimated at $3,263,526. The city has already received $5.8 million of the overall anticipated $9.1 million reimbursement.
Shelton BOE eyes less than 3% budget hike
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
SHELTON School administrators are working to propose a budget with less than a 3 percent increase from the present fiscal year, according to Superintendent Ken Saranich.
Saranich presented his initial budget to the Board of Education during its workshop Monday. The proposed $75.3 million budget is a $2.6 million increase or 3.54 percent from the 2020-21 allocations.
The main drivers are increases in certified staff salaries ($972,774 increase, based on contractual agreements), software management systems ($71,756 increase), Chromebook purchases ($404,382 increase) and magnet school tuition fees ($418,490 increase). The instructional materials section calls for a 22.51 percent hike, with increases in instructional software ($119,968) and curricular support materials ($51,023).
Shelton finances in a sound position, city officials say
Brian Gioiele
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Exterior of Shelton City Hall, in Shelton, Conn. Jan. 11, 2021.Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media
SHELTON City finances are in a “favorable position,” with a replenished fund balance and stronger-than-anticipated early tax collection results, according to city Finance Director Paul Hiller.
Overall, the general fund a point of concern last year when it sank to $84,068 stands at $2,188,800. Hiller said the number has increased after a favorable fiscal year, when each department came in under budget, including the Board of Education, which returned $501,000 to the city’s general fund.
Shelton schools chief: Keeping current staff, services would cost $1.8M
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
SHELTON Maintaining current school district services with the required contractual increases next fiscal year would still require a nearly $2 million budget increase, according to school administrators.
School Finance Director Rick Belden presented a 2021-22 fiscal year budget with no additions to the Board of Education during its first budget workshop on Tuesday. The result, according to Belden, would still mean a $1,812,596 jump from the present fiscal year.
The school budget has stood at $72,765,000 for the past two years, the result each year being reductions in staff and services to meet the figure. By maintaining the present staff and services, Belden said the budget would increase to $74,577,596.
Shelton High student parking fees waived
Brian Gioiele
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SHELTON Shelton High students received an early Christmas present from the Board of Education.
The board, at its virtual meeting last Wednesday, voted unanimously to waive the parking fees for the second quarter for those students driving to school a savings of $25.
In August, the Board of Education voted to waive parking fees for high schoolers during the first quarter of the school year. The board had stated when making this decision that it would revisit the parking fee before each new quarter.
Waiving the parking fees for the first quarter cost the district some $7,000, school Finance Director Rick Belden said at the time.