By Sarah Opdahl

New Fairfield’s Board of Finance (BOF or Board) voted 5-1 to approve going to referendum on proposed Town and education budgets. The ballots will approximately read that the BOF “recommend to a Town Meeting education expenditures totali ng $55,071,776 from the General Fund and $119,577 from the Cap and Non Fund for the Fiscal Year commencing July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025” and “recommend to a town meeting Town governmental expenditures of $14,105,707 from the General Fund, $539,455 from the Capital and Non Recurring Fund, and $2,499,112 from Other Governmental Funds for the Fiscal Year commencing July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025.”

Board members worked together to combine portions of changes  proposed by Ms. Cheryl Reedy, Mr. Wes Marsh, and Board Chair Mr. Doug Jendras. Though there was some disagreement initially regarding how much to cut from the education budget, a consensus on the logic of meeting in the middle prevailed. Jendras was ready to work together with Reedy and Marsh, hoping to bring the process closer to the end with a final budget markup.

Reedy was clear that she wished the education budget would not be cut but acknowledged that some cuts were needed to present a fiscally responsible budget to the voters. “I am sorry that I cannot propose that we let the education budget go through [as is]. I do not think that is responsible. I think we have a role to play in this…,” however, she said, “we do not need to kick the can down the road on our capital and non recurring, we do not need to kick the can down the road on elected official’s salaries. We have the money. We have the money to do th e right thing.” Her proposal on cuts to capital was presented as a way to find savings but allow the BOE enough funds to move forward on critical projects.

Jendras, Reedy, and Marsh’s proposals were merged with tweaks to result in a compromise that the BOF ultimately approved. Superintendent Dr. Ken Craw said the final reduction of $350,000 to the education operating budget would be difficult, but he understands that the BOF is trying to “get to a good place.”

Following a dramatic previous meeting regarding elected official’s salaries, many Town salaries—including the first selectman, treasurer, tax collector, and registrars—were increased to bring them in line with similar Towns. An update Reedy has wanted to put in place for several years, the agreement to heighten salaries was another moment of cooperation among most BOF members.

A good faith agreement was made among BOF members to plan to fund the turf and track if other sources do not pan out. There was a brief discussion and motion to possibly add advisory questions regarding whether the budget is too high or low to the referendum, but a “No” vote carried.

Ms. Thora Perkins spoke at length about the need to reign in the steady increase on education budgets, referring to other school districts that  are attempting to stem budget expansion.

Though members of the public in attendance had originally supported Reedy’s proposal, some indicated that they were still unhappy with the final proposed cuts to education at the meeting’s end, expressing fears that staff positions would be eliminated. Jendras, as a new BOF member, expressed frus tration about the feedback regarding the process and pointed out that he followed the original plan to gather data and end in a final markup. Regarding the school administration’s proposed education cuts, he said, “I have made suggestions to reduce areas that would never impact teachers, parents, class size, and sports.”

The next regular Board of Finance meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, 7:30 p.m.