GREENFIELD — Though the school department isn’t getting everything it would like to see in Mayor William Martin’s proposed budget this year, administration officials urged the town Ways and Means Committee Monday night to support a 2.3 percent increase over this year’s budget for next year.
“It’s an extremely thoughtful process, and the budget reflects the department’s values and priorities,” said Superintendent Jordana Harper. “We’ve been extremely conservative this year with a 3.4 percent increase, which was subsequently added to by the (budget and finance) subcommittee.” However, Martin cut $250,000 from the school request, landing at 2.3 percent.
The mayor’s figure, Harper said, is “a very modest increase over last year driven mostly by contractual obligations, out-of-district education costs, transportation and other fixed costs.”
“We ask for your support of that budget,” Harper continued. “Clearly without the increase of 2.3 percent it would not be possible to meet our operational goals with that reduction of $250,000. We’ve had to make significant cuts already and we ask you support this in its current form to meet the essential needs of the school department.”
She noted that $350,000 worth of proposed new positions and other expenses requested by the school principals were shaved from the budget before it was brought to the budget and finance subcommittee. Only a new Greenfield High School adjustment counselor remains now.
Budget and Finance Subcommittee member Adrienne Nunez said the School Committee recognizes that increases to the school department’s budget would come at the expense of other town departments.
“It’s quite difficult to ask for additional funding,” she said. “We’d happily accept it, but we understand we’re working within a larger community.”
Harper noted that this year’s budget includes money to study ways in which special education and out-of-district tuition costs can be brought under control. Some out-of-district students, who could cost the district up to $400,000 a year, may never have set foot in town, she said, but have a parent living there, obligating the school to pay for part of that student’s education.
Harper said the school could reduce transportation costs to some extent by enforcing the department’s transportation policies more strictly, such as ending bus service for students within a certain radius of their school. That, said Howard Barber, the district’s business manager, could allow the district to cut the cost of a bus.
However, they noted that such a decision would disproportionately affect lower-income families with few transportation alternatives.
At-large Town Councilor Isaac Mass, the Ways and Means vice-chairman, asked Harper what would be done if the committee decided to add an additional $50,000 to the school budget. She said it would be used to offset special education costs.
If the same amount were removed, Barber said, it may require the department to begin looking at staff reductions.
Mass asked Martin if waste removal costs could be reduced by instructing the town Department of Public Works to assume those duties. Martin said he would look into such an arrangement, which Barber said would save the district about $24,000 per year.
School Committee Chairman Timothy Farrell lamented drops in state financial aid seen in recent years.
“We’re trending in the right direction, and supporting this budget will keep us heading in that direction,” he said.
Martin has previously said the town budget, which includes money for the schools, could be bolstered by state aid, but how much the town will receive is unclear at this time.
The committee also voted to spend $228,000 from the town’s contract stabilization account to help pay for teacher’s contracts.