With the usual number of residents in attendance, the Sherman Board of Selectmen held a spec ial meeting on Wednesday, March 30th in Mallory Town Hall, the sole purpose of which was to discuss the 2022/2023 budget. 

                Led by First Selectman Don Lowe, discussion about the Town’s porti on of the budget was seamless and was approved without questions or objections. Mr. Lowe commented that the Town had an extraordinarily strong revenue year. Town Revenue was up more than four percent from last year, due in part to real estate appreciation and home improvement, as well as motor vehicle tax. The projected mill rate, at current spending, is 18.06, which is down just over three percent from last year.  

Selectman Bob Ostrosky noted that while the proposed budget includes a capital plan, and the budget allocates the sum of $500,000 to the capital non-recurring fund as it has done for the past five years, none of those funds are expended until the voters approve such expenditures. “Every single one of those [projects] must be brought to Town Meeting by the Board of Selectmen and then voted on at Town Meeting for those funds to be expended. There is nothing more than a plan,” Mr. Ostrosky said. Mr. Lowe thanked Mr. Ostrosky for the clarification.

Next, Tim Laughlin, Chair of the Sherman Board of Education (“BOE”) Budget and Finance Committee, s poke.  The BOE’s most recent adopted budget request to the BOS stands at $9,234,855, which represents an $84,965 reduction. Sherman has 126 students in the various high schools in the upcoming school year, down approximately seven students; and because of their elections the overall budget reduction amounts to 11.93 percent. The proposed pre-k through grade 8 program budget, which covers all teaching and programmatic activity, as well as district operations, increased by 3.15 percent. Tuition paid to The Sherman School has increased to $34,150, resulting in an increase from tuition of $74,650. Based on the figures presented, Mr. Laughlin noted that overall, there is a reduction in the total budget requested by the BOE. 

The budget does contain new programs, including the expansion of the school’s pre-K program to a longer day with two full-time teachers that will begin with the 2022/23 school year. Additionally, the BOE is analyzing the school’s administrative and programmatic model following Dr. Melendez’ departure as Superintendent and Principal of The Sherman School as of June 30; and the BOE has started the hiring process for an interim part-time superintendent. 

Mr. Laughlin further noted that the BOE was not finished with its budget since Mr. Melendez had two years left on his contract; however, the BOE and Mr. Melendez did reach an equitable agre ement. The BOE is working with the BOS on how to book those expenses and can now move forward with a lower cost model. Mr. Laughlin stated The BOE will meet once more and hopes to finalize its budget at that time. 

The Annual Budget Meeting is scheduled for April 23rd at 10:00 a.m.

By Michelle L. Santoro