No tax increase, no problem for voters

VERNON-By a more than a two-to-one margin, the 2005-2006 school budget passed leaving the tax rate flat from the previous year at $2.25 per $100 of assessed valuation. "This is the least amount of ‘no' votes we have had in recent years," said re-elected Board of Education member Cynthia Aube rger of the 509 dissenting votes cast. "When there is a year that lacks controversy, like this one, we were worried that the ‘yes's" would not come out to support us, but we did." There were 1126 assenting votes cast for the budget. In the last five years, two budgets have failed. The 2001-2002 budget did not pass and resulted in a $1 million reduction by the Town Council, as did the 2002-2003 budget, resulting in a $250,000 reduction by the council. This year's school budgets were subject to strict spending caps imposed by the state regarding surplus spending and general fund limits. The problem faced by districts throughout the state is the rising cost of mandated state and federal programs versus the shrinking state and federal aid for these same programs. Dr. Barbara Cozine, Assistant Superintendent of Vernon schools, said that Vernon was able to avoid many of these problems through strict financial management and shrewd decisions regarding fixed costs. "Although we have employed strategies to lower costs in these areas when possible, such as changing carriers, utilizing competitive bidding and instituting energy conservation measures, fixed costs such as utilities, fuel, liability and health insurance remain the fastest growing segment of our budget," she said via email on April 13th. As far as the effect of the spending caps imposed by the state, which have caused a reduction in force for many districts across the state, Cozine said that Vernon is not affected due to the retirement of teachers. In the coming years, however, Vernon will feel the pinch of these caps due to the depletion of the general fund balance. "First and foremost, the budget passed, and that's the main thing," said newly elected school board member Doug Castellana.