Greenwich Public Schools demand unrestrained spending, taxpayers be damned

On Monday, the Greenwich legislative body (RTM - Representative Town Meeting), voted by a super-majority in favor of a non-binding SOMR (Sense of the Meeting Resolution) demanding that the Greenwich budget board (BET – Board of Estimate and Taxation) give the public schools the full $12 million (5% increase), they originally requested during budget hearings. That would mean adding back $4 million to the reasonable $8 million increase that the public schools were already awarded by the BET.  For the public schools, there is no compromise, no negotiation, no efficiency, no tightening their belt.  Ask and they shall receive.

How do Greenwich public schools expect to get everything they ask for when enrollment is on the decline and taxpayers already provide the highest funding per student of any town in Connecticut?  Here’s how:

First, it helps to have overwhelming pressure (emails, letters) from the public school lobby demanding higher spending or else something onerous such as earlier school start times might be imposed.  Secondly, it helps to have the parents turn out to protest at the budget meeting with signs and shouts of “Shame on You.”  Parents who may disagree with the crowd remain silent; otherwise, their kids might feel the heat.  Finally, it really helps that supporting the excessive funding request of the public schools might be a vote getter in the Fall for Democrats who have their eye on gaining control of the BET.

Under the budget as it stands, taxpayers will face an already high increase of +2.8% in the mill rate (property taxes).  If the budget is revisited by the BET and the schools receive everything they want, get ready for much higher taxes.

Between the Lines - This leaves the fiscally prudent BET with the hard work of representing the silent majority of taxpayers who want good schools at a reasonable price.

Story here