At its budget planning workshop on 2/6/12, the Finance Sub-Committee of the Ansonia Board of Aldermen recommended an increase in the Board of Education's budget from $26.3 million in the current year to $27 million in 2012-2013. While this is indeed an increase in the dollars allocated to the city's schools, it is approximately $868,000 less than the Superintendent's budget request.
The Superintendent requested an increase of $1.49 million. This is the minimum amount of money needed to maintain the current level of staffing and programming. Because Ansonia's scores on state tests have improved, we have lost our designation as a "Priority School District". This means the loss of approximately $1.2 million. At the same time, other important grants to the school district are declining or being eliminated.
The document at this
LINK demonstrates the potential impact if the current recommendation by the Board of Aldermen is implemented. The budget process will continue through April. The next important meeting of the Board of Aldermen and the Board of Apportionment and Taxation will take place at City Hall on 2/14/12 at 7:00 PM.