Open E-Mail to Jennifer Tung, Chairman of the Board of Finance

Hi Ms. Tung, I saw on the Madison Patch that you were seeking public input to the budgets. Please pass this along to all of your colleagues at the Board of Finance. I wanted to put this in writing in case I do not have a chance to speak at tonight’s meeting: Overall: 1. I am concerned that the budgets (town and education) have been rising steadily each year and are larger per capita in Madison vs. other comparative surrounding towns. 2. I have the perception (do not know if this is true, but I haven’t seen otherwise) that the BOS and BOF do not press for town depts. and BOE to come in with budgets that are say, 5% lower, with their best 2-3 options of how to cut and what the effect would be. If that is not your starting point, you will never get efficiencies that we all are seeking. 3. In terms of economic development, it seems that the people of Madison want to remain “a small town”, but then we are being asked to fund “big town” budgets. If we are a small town, we need to seriously act upon combining resources with surrounding towns to maximize our efficiency. We cannot put this burden on the current property owners. To date, only lip service has been given to the regionalization effort. 4. I am concerned with spending priorities. With the changing climate, we need to be better prepared for storms. We are not repairing East Wharf, which would serve as protection for the nearby shoreline. Yet we are replacing lockers at Brown School, and moving the bleachers at Strong field. I realize these funds are in “buckets” but ultimately they are all taxpayer dollars. Education: 1. I am concerned with the “hands off” policy that seems to be occurring when it comes to oversight of this budget. There is not enough evidence of savings, commensurate with the decline in enrollment. This should be examined more closely by our town officials. For example, the article in the Source this week indicated that the new budget makes room for seven new “special assignment” paraprofessionals due to an “anticipated” reduction in state grants. While the superintendent is saying there are staff reductions, there are also additions. What is the “net” of the staff reductions over the past few years, and if salary and benefits are the biggest line items, why does the budget ask keep rising? 2. Is what Barbara Davis writes in her blog in the Patch accurate, that Madison teachers teach less periods than their counterparts in other districts, due to an old error in a contract? What is being done to address this? This would seemingly be a huge savings to us in staffing if this issue is corrected. If you have not read Barbara’s blog yet, I strongly encourage you to do so. 3. Full day kindergarten: Not very long ago, I read in the Source that the Board of Selectman told the superintendent that he must “self fund” full day kindergarten, that there are no additional funds to add to the budget for that. Suddenly, there is more staff being added for full day kindergarten, which means a hit to the budget. What changed, and when? Did the taxpayers get asked about this? 4. Special education: This is quickly spiraling out of control. What accounts for these exorbitant costs? Is there private transportation for every student? Are we also funding room and board? What can be done in conjunction with surrounding towns to create efficiencies, whether it be transportation, or earmarking one school for special ed purposes, etc. etc? 5. Enrollment: With the decline in enrollment expected to continue, what is the LONG RANGE PLAN (5 years)? Is anyone working on this? Why are we spending money to refurbish schools when we may end up closing another one? But we don’t know, do we, because there is no 5 year plan? Health Insurance: What is being done to address the rising cost? Are we looking to combine forces with other towns to get better rates? Are town and school employees paying their fair share relative to the rest of us, or should they be made to pay more of a contribution? Ms. Tung, I am appreciative of the time that you all spend as volunteers for this town. I serve on a volunteer board of directors and I know how time consuming and how “thankless” it can be at times. I am also certain that there will not be time at the meeting tonight to address all of the issues I have listed above. But I care about this town and the ability for property owners to live here affordably, and feel that their tax dollars are being well spent. I list the questions above with all good intentions, and I honestly hope that you will help drive these issues to the forefront of the budget planning process. I will be voting “no” on both budget proposals unless they are adjusted to at least a zero increase. Thank you for your attention