001Okay. Um, thank you all for coming. Um, I'm going to call the meeting of uh the board of education special meeting dated April 3rd, 2025 at 6 pm for the new Harford Board of Education. Uh, to start, please join me if you're able in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Um, again, thank you all to the board of education members. I know I sent a text on Tuesday night to try to get this meeting put together for today and I know we have every member, including Deerree on the phone. So, thank you very much for making this happen. Um, this does allow us to be
002able to be prepared uh for the whatever action this board determines we're going to take prior to the board of finance meeting on uh Tuesday the 8th. Um where they will take action on the budgets that'll go to um to um referendum. Um so board of education chairman's report. I'm going to go through a few things here. I'll set up the meeting for today and then we'll head right into uh you know our our our business for today which is a discussion and uh any potential action on the 24 our 2526 budget. Um so I'd like to start by acknowledging as I did last meeting um all the communications that we've received from the community. Um, I'm going to focus on the written communications we've received and then I'll talk about you and again, everybody's
003been here for the communications um and public comment at our meetings. Uh, but we'll talk a little bit about the public comment we heard when we were at the uh public budget hearing on uh Tuesday of this past week. So, prior to today, I did acknowledge 25 um communications to the board. Since our last meeting, uh we have had another 29 communications to the board. Again, they've all been forward to each of each of you. They will all be part of the meeting minutes in the record of our meeting. Uh, but to acknowledge those who wrote was Mary and again I apologize for butchering anybody's name but but Mary Coburn Rokkey, uh, Shelley McCoy, Kristen Bakula, April Pike, Shelley Lloyd, Greta Linquist Merino, Matt Flareity, Haley Dutinger, Ashley Cerudo, Garrett Cerudo, Dexter Cerudo, Marcia Jones,
004Peter and Essie Humphrey, Shannon Nicholas, Chris and Reena Sears, Uh Joselyn Co Costak, Emily Bernard, Christine Holland, Anissa Zucker, Ellen and Gary Tobaca, Aaron Failen, Jennifer and Adam Mustracola, John Puzz and Kate Humphrey, Kate and Rick Trip, David Zucker, Roxanne Helt, Laura Pollico, Crystal Champo, and Mia Doyle of the 29 we receives. So, communications to the board regarding our 2526 budget has been a total of 54 communications to the board have come in um in addition to the public comment that uh we've heard. Um so, just quickly as an update to and again I'll I'll ask Penny and Tom and Frank and Jeff to please um contribute as well to Tuesday's uh public budget hearing. Um, I'm going to say there were probably a um probably 30 to 40 in the in the uh in
005the room. At least 40 at least 40 in the room for the public hearing. Um, specifically related to our local uh board of ed budget, I'm going to say there were probably 20 um individuals who got up and spoke um and provided their input against our budget. Many of them um echoed what we've heard here at our meetings um regarding um many things such as the band program. Uh we there was many that talked about the school counselor and the need for it. Um several that talked about white memorial, talented and gifted um were really the major topics we heard in that meeting. Um as we sat there and listened to everyone, there weren't many questions that came our way to to to Jeff or or to the board. it was more comments and um
006people who were behind or or people who wanted to remove the eliminations um that we have proposed in our current budget. Um so again they echoed a lot of what we've already heard here. They echoed it to the board of finance which is fantastic and also to the board of selectment. Um both members or at least two members were there from the board of selectment. Um anything I missed on on Tuesday? Anything you would add to that guys? Music. What's that? Music. Music. Yeah. Band program. It was a was a was a major topic that came up over and over and over again. They talked about consolidation. There was one or two comments. Yeah. I mean, it's fair. Yes. There were the platforms. Yep. I would say that again of everybody who spoke, which was
00720 plus regarding our budget, there were two. It's fair to acknowledge there were probably two, maybe three that spoke about um um getting creative with our budget. um talked about consolidation um and talked about again increasing classroom sizes. So again, there were a couple that did bring those topics up to us. Those topics are more long range planning. It's nothing we can do for the 2526 budget. So we have to keep that in mind. Um some other folks also mentioned fundraising and as a board of education we can't directly fundra. We can't receive those revenues that way. um a PTO or any other educational promoting type of business can certainly fund raise and then donate to the board of education. We have a policy of how to receive those monies and then it would be
008determined here at the board of education level how to spend those. But we don't have the capacity nor the authority to fund raise. There was an example of buying a car and auctioning it off. We cannot do that as a board of education just for clarity purposes for the public. Thank you. So, I don't know if there are any questions that anybody has if you were able to be on virtually or if you have any questions on what we just reported, but you know, like I said, there was a lot of um a lot of discussion about where we are with our budget, where we are as a town. You know, if you look at overall what was reported as a town, you know, it was shown that 80% of our town budget is education
009between Northwest Regional as well as um here in uh our local and um I think the overall as I recall someone may check me on the number the overall proposed increase which includes town northwest regional and local budget was around five and change 5.37 5.37 overall is what was proposed at the public budget hearing. Um that's not what's going to the town referendum. That won't come until the Tuesday board of finance meeting. Um so I'll end my budget or the chair's report is just again thanking everybody thanking for people who came out and spoke. Thank thanking everyone for the letters and the community input that we received. Um it is all being taken under consideration and um tonight's meeting is is just for that purpose uh for for preparation for the board of finance meeting
010on Tuesday. Um so moving into the 2526 budget agenda item um and any uh discussion and action we as a board would like to take. Um I'll start by saying that we have an opportunity to do something if we'd like to as a board do something prior to the meeting on on Tuesday for their consideration. Um they all heard a lot of the same communications. All these 54 communications we received have all been shared with the board of finance. They've seen them all. um and they sat there uh as a as a board on Tuesday night to listen to the public. So Jeff and I have had many different conversations over the last, you know, month, but you know, more more importantly over the last week or so on uh potential things we could do
011as a board. Uh but the first question is as a board, do we want to move forward with what we have today, what we've adopted, or does the board want to reconsider what we've adopted and discuss something different? I have a question about the process. Sure. Because last year's budget went pretty smoothly, I think, right? Compared to this. Mhm. So we the numbers they were presenting the board of finance they're just sharing what different groups have sent to them. This is not now the board of finance could on the ETH take those and adjust them. Yes. The board of finance had an opportunity at the prior meeting right they have to they have to as a board of finance approve what goes to the public budget hearing which they did in their prior meeting. um
012they had opportunity back then to to to make adjustments, but they decided that what they received from Northwest Regional, what they received from the local board and what they received from the town was um was enough to go to public hearing, public budget hearing. Does that mean that they were satisfied with those budgets? No. No. Okay. No. I mean, again, I I don't want to speak on their behalf, but it doesn't indicate that they were satisfied with the budgets. And it doesn't mean that they were not satisfied. Correct. It just means they received those budget. Correct. They received them and they thought that they were in a in a place that they could be passed on to public budgeting. If you read the minutes for the last board of finance meeting before the public hearing
013on Tuesday night, you will see that a couple of board of finance members did say we cannot support the 4.99. they did not like the 4.99% increase. Now, while they can go back to they can write a letter to region 7 saying that we don't like your percentage increase, but so far in all the years I've taken the minutes on that board, region 7 has never changed their budget because we're only two out of I don't know what is there 10 members on the board of it or something like that. They've never changed their budget. Um the town sometime has sometimes he's been creative in reduced re changing his budget around but they listened on Tuesday night normally what they have done at a public hearing in previous years is everybody presents their budgets after
014that meeting then normally there's a board of finance meeting and at that meeting then they decide what they're going to ask the various boards to That has not happened the last couple of years. Instead, they've gone to that meeting that's coming up this coming Tuesday. And at that meeting, they will discuss what they're going to ask the town and the local board of ed to do. And I guess if they decide to send a letter to region 7, they'll send a letter saying we don't you need to cut your budget. But like I said, they never do. So, I would like to um you know, again, I'd like to start with based on the public input we've received, based on what I've heard at the town hearing, based on the conversations we have, I would
015like to have further discussion regarding our current budget, what we proposed and adopted today. So, I'm going to make a motion as the chair to rescend our 2526 adopted budget of 10,325,026 for further action and discussion. I'll second that. I have a motion by myself, a second by Tim Russell to rescend our adoption of the 2526 budget that we sent to the board of finance. Is there any discussion on that? Are you sure you can do that? Yes. No. Now, do we have to do that to just uh if we kept the same number to adjust within that budget or you only rescending the 499 and do we always have the option to I'm right. I'm rescending what we've adopted right for further including the Well, we'll we'll have additional discussion. Yes, Tom. Usually by
016this time in the process, we've been given direction by the board of finance. Either keep it is good or no, cut 200,000 bucks. We've yet to receive that because they at the previous meeting before this past Tuesday, they were lacking some information they wanted and so they sent it back just as is. And then last Tuesday in the past, I remember they did have some discussion after the town and they would tell the board of eds to cut it back. So there's been numerous opportunities for the board of finance to do that. They haven't done that. Now again, that's not explicitly saying they're accept they like our number or they don't like our number, but to me that's they're leaving the the door open for some further discussion one way or the other. So, I
017am in favor of reviewing that number right now. I don't think though you can I'm not sure you can rescend it. I really don't think that you can. I don't think you can go over that 4.99 like you can't come back and say to them, well, we've changed our mind and now we want 527. I don't think you can do that. We might be able to go lower than 4.99. My understanding is we can we can provide we can provide any budget that the board that the board of ed adopts prior to public reference. But they've already accepted your 4.99. They haven't accepted it. I just said that they have yet to make a motion in that board as far as I know to accept the board of finance. They they've done that in the
018past. They didn't do it that night when there was no public comment and they didn't do it this past Tuesday. The motion that was made at a recent board meeting was that they would they were moving to accept the budgets presented by the [Music] town. Is it it's the town and the local board of ed? No, it was region 7 and the local board of ed at some meeting and the town budget presented at this last board of finance meeting. Let me see if I can get online and get you that motion. I'm not going to argue. You could be right, Pam. There, as far as I understood, it was for presentation at the town meeting which took place Tuesday. It wasn't a yes, we like the 4.99, we don't like the 4.99. That is
019my understanding as well. Okay. I'm just saying I don't think you can, but whatever. Is there any further discussion? Okay. All those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All those opposed. Dear G, I raised my hand. I'm sorry. Yeah. Yes, I ra I raised my hand. Thank you. For four again to review the budget again. Motion passes 810. So, as far as I know, Tim, right, we don't have a solid budget because we don't have a bus number in here yet. So, we don't have a budget that is actually presentable to the public right now. Is that correct? Well, here's here's what I'll set up and these are again I have had conversations with Superintendent Susa since our last meeting. So, there have been some new information and and new developments regarding we'll
020start with the bus contract. Um, so the bus contract has been issued to us. It has been signed today. So, it was signed today. That indicates a savings um on that line item within our our what we currently had. That savings is to the tune of $120,000. Um in addition to that, we have the news that we have the retirement of um Superintendent Seuss's administrative assistant, Janet Tenzi. Um she is been with the with the U district for 20 20 years. 20 years. Um is at a higher scale than we would hire um as a replacement. Um so we would anticipate and project a lower salary with a savings to our budget of about 15,000 about $15,000. In addition to that, we've been discussing and looking into the non-lapsing account. Um, we have $114,000 in
021the um in the original non-lapsing account. Um, call it 54 of that or 55 of that is earmarked currently for the current projected overage for the 2526 school year. 2425 school year. um the balance of that there's potential and there's been discussion of can we use that for um to offset cost within our current budget. Um one of the things that Jeff and I have spoken about is there's clearly major variability with um outplacements. We clearly we project you know superintendent Susan and his administration project what they can based on what they know um yearby year and we get shot right like we did this current year um and what we'll go into next year. So, if the board decides that we want to use the balance of that $114,000, call it another60,000. All right.
022We can vote to apply that $60,000 to our current budget. 26 27, I'm sorry, 2627 budget for the proposal. 26 25 26 years. Yeah. Um, so those are the things that, you know, as we've gone through and Jeff and I have spoken about over the last few days trying to determine how we eliminate and send a budget to the community and let the let the community make their decision. Um, you know, we went forward with a 4.99% increase. We did that to be fiscally responsible, but we've also, again, this is my opinion. We've heard from the community that the the the impact to the students is far worse than the increase in the taxes um from what we've heard. Again, that's that's that's based on the 100 plus people we've heard from, right? Not based
023on the 7,000 taxpayers on top. Um but in my opinion, and this is just my opinion, I believe that we should listen to that and let our taxpayers make the decision. Um, so in preparation for tonight, I did ask our superintendent to go back to the proposed eliminations. Um, based on the board first, I think we have to take action if we want to use this $60,000 from the non-laping. We have to take action on that. Um, but I've asked our superintendent to go back and relook at the eliminations based on having those funds available and what he and his administration administrative team um would present back to this board. So, I'd like to hear from Jeff once again. We should first talk about the non-lapsing. [Music] So, does anybody again uh I'll make a
024motion to use $60,000 of the non-lapsing account um and apply it to the 2526 budget um against the variability in the outplacement costs um projected in our 2526 budget year. So, we have a motion by myself, a second by Kristen. Do we have any discussion? Can you restate that for me? Was it 65,000? 60,000. We have $114,000 in a non-lapsing account. We have a projected 5550 to $55,000 um overage in our current year. So, I'm saying that the delta, that's $60,000. My motion is to apply that against the projected outplacement cost for the 2526 school year due to the variability of that. So, it's again, we had said last time we shouldn't be using those funds for recurring costs, but variable cost, right? Again, we know it's back and forth. They're up and down, right?
025Whether they're in district, out of district. So, um that's my motion. And the effect would be to free up 60,000 correct in the budget. Correct. And if I'm correct from your numbers, the with the bus and the um hiring of someone who's lower salary, that's 135,000, right? Okay. I don't I don't think it's a good idea to be taking money out of that account. Even though it is a variable variable expense, it's it's not as a variable expense as a leaking roof or it's expense that's going to be there and it's it varies by how high it's going to go in my opinion, not if it's going to disappear. And I think that taking that money out of that account is a band-aid um a band-aid approach to what we want to accomplish. I think
026if we can find other ways, I would prefer to do that before we start spending money out of an account that we kind of keep for other items than the balancing a budget. That's my opinion on that account. Um, are there any risks or ramifications to like zeroing out essentially zeroing out that account? So, the uh the account again that's part of my thought process and I didn't bring this up that that won't zero out our non-lapsing account. We voted two week two two meetings ago um to put in from our 20 23 24 budget year the surplus of $107,000. So we're not depleting the account. $107,000 will remain. This 115 was built from probably five or more years ago plus a little bit shortly thereafter uh was that original 115 or $114,000. But again,
027this doesn't deplete the account for those unknowns, right? That contingency that, you know, Tom, as you talk about, if you have a leaky roof that you have to repair or we have um, you know, emergency repairs that that that come up that we may need to to revisit, can we look at other measures first before we decide to tap into that and make it a vote on that $60,000? Can we approach the we approach this budget in a from a different angle first before we do that work? I'd be okay with that. Sure. I'll uh I'll pull back my motion for now. She has to pull back for a second. Okay. Right. So the other thing again as I as I thought about the other item that Superintendent Sus and I also spoke about was
028on the excess costs um that we get from the state. We had been more conservative than um region 7 was. Um, so if we align ourselves with what region 7 is anticipating getting back, which I think is a fair assessment um to do, uh, we could also plan for some additional funds to the tune of I don't know the numbers, but $7,000 more, right?$7,000. Sorry, that is to expect that the state this year is going to give us more money. We have conservatively estimated based off of historical patterns, how much money they will reimburse us for on the conservative side of that. And now we're saying we can be less conservative with that this year. We're we're over we're more conservative than region seven is is what I'm saying. Um so if we align with
029what region 7, you know, the conservativeness region 7's taken and again I would ask superintendent Sosa to give us the percentages, right? Is what would we anticipate? What what does the state if you run the the formula what does the state say that we would get? So at 70% we'd get $127,000. That's that's at the same rate that region 7 is projecting as well. And that's only going from 68% to 70%. Yeah. It's a it's a short jump. And the reason why region seven feels confident about that is because this year we re the state of Connecticut put in the 40 million because there's such a shortfall, but next year it's already budgeted that they're putting another $40 million in. So that's why there's less of a worry. The legislators have heard more and more
030from people. So that was their rationale. When was that additional funding like when was that how current is that implication for the state that they are expected to put 40 million that's within the budget now? So what the governor's by annual budget proposal it's in there and it's has bipartisan support across the board that's been reported on and again just information that region 7 and other you know we're all aware of that and this year it was a tussle back and forth for that other 40 million. Um but that is separate from the budget that's already been proposed and has a lot of support for that $40 million for next year. I I see your liness. I understand. Yeah. That that's also we were talking about $7,000 difference. It's not going to solve our issues.
031Just so I'm clear, we could keep the budget number at $499 and restore band the counselor and counselor And then we could restore tag and white memorial with the uh savings on salary. Is that right? Um I would say without the non-lapsing we're at $142,000. Okay. All right. So if you added up those three items, I just four those four. So you're at 15. Yeah. those those four items are under the $142,000 134. Well, it's it's a it's good to those are the top four items that we heard about in public hearing and through letters and things like that. So, so I that's a good base to be at already. If we could um Superintendent Sis, if you want to present to the board what you would propose based on I don't know if you
032have the 60 in it or the 60 out of it. Okay. So without the 60 again and I and I've said this before but our charge as the board is to provide the best education to the students. We hire our superintendent and we hire our administrators to be able to manage and run our school. It's it's I mean it's a business, right? And he's the CEO of our company. So for us to go and try to pick on light items throughout the budget is not really our purview. Um you know again we aren't educate I mean not all of us you guys there are some educators in the room so it's it's different but you know we should put heav heavy reliance on what is being proposed in my opinion as the board chair. That's
033what I would encourage everybody to do. Um and and if you have questions for clarity like we did when we went through all the detail of the budget, please ask that right for clarity and you know looking at the list and and I agree with that but those four items that I listed are four of the five highest priority if I understood the way they were organized. Yeah. And I would also say again, yeah, I mean they were in they were in order, right? We asked our superintendent to put them in order of least impact to the students, right? At least to most. Um, you know, so, you know, again, we could also look at, you know, is it the school counselor or CJR, right? because what was also provided to the board of finance
034was the breakdown of of of mental health support in each school and there was a void on certain days at New Harford Elementary and over at over at at uh Bakerville. So, can CGR fill that gap for 35 versus 715? Those are things that we should be talking about, right? But I I would like to hear from from Superintendent Suicide his his proposal to us. And but again, and I haven't seen this, so we we talked and I don't I didn't want the information before I presented it to the full board. So, with given the savings from the bus contract, um the positions that I would highly recommend bringing back to our budget, still staying under the 499 or at around that mark hovering and a lot of the board members are already going in
035that direction is to bring our school counselor back to bring back the support for mental health for our 39 students on case load plus the other 11 throughout plus all the 200 plus uh instances that she is available to support teachers classroom lessons uh and the day-to-day uh emergencies and things that come up with our students um whether they're getting off the bus or and I've described other situations. So, that to me is the most paramount. Uh that individual provides again the the opportunity for us to give to children every single day and our families the support that they need um for um all three of our schools to have mental health support 5 days a week. someone there every single day which is critical. So that would be my first recommendation. The second is
036without a 6 FTE vocal music teacher the burden of trying to teach general music uh for one individual across three schools inclusive of travel. We're going into non-efficiencies and then the absolute devastating effect that that would have on our fifth grade and sixth grade band and coral programs. That would be again the next it's right in priority from what I've left here. So those two positions alone I would recommend to bring back into our budget that is again compensated by the savings that we have alone in the budget in the uh bus contract. So that is what I could absolutely hands down recommend to the board of education. If there are additional funding sources that we're looking to take and bring back, such as we were talking about excess cost, then we're getting really close
037to bringing back. We can cover talent and gifted in mathematics and math Olympiads for example at that $7,000. If we go further into other savings and we're considering the non-lapsing account, then again, I'm just going up the list of what I feel is most critical. Those four elements we've definitely heard from the community, we definitely know across the board are very important um to our students um based on tradition, based on advancing our students intellectual capabilities uh through Talton gifted and math olympiads um band. We know we've heard over and over and over again how critical important that is and our general music program and our school counselor. So with those those right off the bat I would recommend based on the savings from our bus contract. The rest is kind of subjective to what
038else the motions the board would like to take tonight so that we could present um a different budget to our board of finance. So I'm prepared to pivot any other way. Um that's what I would speak to based on the savings that the board understands and has in pocket right now. You said counselor band tag and what was the you said four. What was the fourth one? General Music 6 FTE School Counselor Talent and Gifted Math Olympiads and White Memorial. Okay. [Music] Jeff, I have a question. Jeff, can you hear me? And that means not touching what's left in the non-lapsing that's with the board of finance. Yes, that is correct. And I see Dear Dree has her hand up. So I want to give her an opportunity. Can you hear me? I can hear
039you. Yeah. Is the position that you just mentioned, the council position, is that the grant-f funded position that we only got um for one year, then we funded it last year, and now you're proposing to fund it again this year, even though that is correct. Yes, that is correct. Didn't we discuss at the last board meeting that we were going to not um take on the burden of grant positions um once you know once the grant ended or take the risk of bringing something on only getting the grant for maybe one or two years and then having to put the burden of that on to the board of ed to to and the the budget to manage. That was a point of discussion. It wasn't again not something I could fully recommend based on the
040fact that grants are provided so that we can meet the need and then bridge it eventually. So there are other positions or other grants that if they brought position we evaluate them every single year and if they are not necessary or not ne not needed then we would not continue to fund that. There is a grant within the budget currently at $52,000 for a position that we are not going to recommend to keep for the following year because it's not funded. So sometimes yes and other times no. It depends on what the school system currently needs. Sorry, that's probably So since prior to my coming to the board, I was involved with the Bakersfield school closure, we were always looking at trying to cut admin and stay away from the kids. So, can we talk
041and I'll ask the question if the since the um central office admin is leaving as as retirement, is there a way to combine her present scope of work with admin administration that we're already paying for efficiently? I mean, she, as far as I understand, without trying to violate any I thought she was off for a bit of time um over this past year. I'm not sure if you hire a replacement during that time or not. Um, is there a way we combine that with the um, you know, the special the student services administrator and eliminate that position all together and make a permanent cut to our overhead in this in this in this district that we don't that we don't have to worry about anymore because that's been that's been a that's been a recurring
042theme since since before I've been on the board that we just keep to Deer's point, we we lop on these layers of people that we have to keep paying for and they never go away and they're needed. I'm sure they are, but they just they add up. So that's my question. If that can be evaluated, it can certainly be evaluated. It has some technicalities and complexities to it. One position is an atill employee, very different than a union employee. And as the board knows, when we're in negotiations, to remove an individual from a bargaining unit takes some negotiating. So it can be something that can be looked at for sure. um workload specifically, they are very different. Um if we're considering giving one person's workload to another person's workload, it's it's can be explored is
043my answer. My question that I would pose back to Tom and Penny or any else that's been on the board is how many other administrative positions have been cut prior to my arrival? I don't know that answer. I've only heard, but I don't know for sure. You guys have lived on the board. How many other spots have been cut? So, we're asking to be more and more efficient, but how efficient are we already? I think we're very efficient. So, if you can give me some historical, that would help, but also looking at administrative positions, it this is a complex issue because one's an atwill and one is not. One is part of a collective bargaining unit. So, again, that would take some work to reclassify. The board has the right to do so, but it's
044got to fit within the legal parameters of what the Department of Labor considers a bargaining unit individual and an atill individual instead. I don't know what the historical is of other administrative assistants or other admin positions, changes, what else has been done in the past. You want those in there now? I hate to say on this handful of almost 18 years. There has never been any cuts made yet over there. Admin positions. I mean, once somebody gets hired by the school, two sticks of butter just seem to stay here. They don't And even though these aren't sticks, though. Coming back employees. It's because they're needed. That's why they keep them. Not necessarily. Well, I would respectfully ask you guys to just let me make that decision. So, I will explore baking sheet. That's what it's
045saying. Yeah, that's what I was trying to read something wrong. The operations are not a great recipe. I'll be need time to explore that because of the complexities of that position. Anyone that belongs to a bargaining unit knows it's not just a quick removal of position. I realize that, but I do like Tom's suggestion. I think it's worth looking into because I do know while your executive assistant was out on sick leave, um the other person in question did fill in quite a bit answering phones and stuff. Absolutely. And before the individual left, there was a lot of preparation before she left to make sure that while you're while I'm out, here's what Jeff is going to need. Here's what has to be prepared. And even then, it's difficult to continue doing your job and
046then take over another person's job. But there was a lot of training and behind the scenes work that happens. Um, just for public knowledge, I don't want to put it to bed completely because I absolutely promise you I will look into the position. Tell you to crack the thing open and take half of the right now. this moment ask any of our bargaining members or anybody that's done negotiations you know it's not just a quick [Music] clarification I wasn't suggesting that it was a a non uh they take on extra work for no don't care cracker I yes I heard I have a crab cracker in Connecticut. I do we um I'll stick with that for a minute. Um because I am I have to cut like it doesn't say how much onion to cut
047up like we should look at again if if you know that we have a retirement without rehiring for that position if we could use the director of student services administrator uh to serve a dual role. Right. We know that we would have to make a salary adjustment. We have to have our superintendent look into whether or not or how how that could happen, right? And this is something that we clearly can do before the 2526 school year, right? Um and as I look at the other public comment that came out, the you know, there was discussion about the IIA and the clerical aid. um knowing we can't do anything now for a proposed budget and say that we're eliminating that position because we don't know if we can right away. Um should we or could
048we make a motion that we will direct Superintendent Susa to look into that and should that come out we can balance that against the potential for retaining maybe one of those positions. I'm okay with that as not that you guys need my approval. I'm okay with that option if you want my opinion. Uh as long as we leave tonight with a final number that we could then say it's adopted and moving forward. Otherwise, we're jammed up for Tuesday night and then we're going to have to schedule another meeting. Fair enough. Yes, absolutely. Okay. Thank you. Absolutely. I also agree with the the clar the clerical aid position um in thinking about the number of people in the office. You know, we we are always concerned with safety, school safety. I believe having the clerical aid
049back will increase the number of people who are in the office um at any given time. Um so for in a in a from a security standpoint, I think that's something that we could or we should bring back and I think the n the 60,000 in the non-lapsing account can do that. I think that's something that we should do, especially if you say we have more than that 60,000 we have we have some coming in anyway. So something to do something to think about. I'm I'm a big I don't like to ever let people go. I think it's bad for morale. And if you can use attrition to save money, which we have that opportunity, I think it's better. Those two positions you're talking about, if I understand correctly, are they have more direct contact
050with the kids as well, the clerical and the IIA? Yeah, I don't think that I don't think that uh and I've made the motion tonight. So again, I would I would I would ask that you know if someone else would like to make a motion, but if you were if you were to eliminate that position, we know that the if we were to move the director of student services admin to share, we would have to again there would have to be compensation adjustments going from a union to an at will employee and taking on a whole another workload, right? Um, so I don't think that that savings is going to offset being able to keep both of those positions. You can possibly make you could possibly make a memorandum of agreement with a union of
051someone that's possible. It's outside of my knowledge. Yeah, it's definitely something that you can do. Um, and usually a union would allow for something like that to happen if it was going to benefit the employee financially. They're not going to say no to that. I mean, do you agree, Tim? Yeah, that's 100%. Question. Um, are we I have one question for Jeff. Can you quickly under in three sentences if there are less save your time and mine? Can you explain CGR position versus school counselor position benefits, pros, cons, other I'll do my absolute best. Yes. Uh, school counselor is available to us five days a week. our employee uh benefits everything. Um collaborator with all of staff because here every single day CJR is uh providing a resource for the community for parents or family
052that cannot bring their children to counseling sessions outside of the school day. So one position is directly impacting 22 students. That's CJR. The school counselor position is impacting a lot more of that because they're here Monday through Friday. CJR is not. Um, we utilize that $35,000 just for an extra day of mental health support as a social worker. The other days are directly providing uh services again to families and students that have the difficulties with scheduling counseling during the school day itself. Thank you. And my last my last point here is to Tim's point um to I'll like to make a motion, but I can't do that without seeing there's a lot of moving parts to these conversations we just had and we have no workboard and no numbers to say I make a motion
053to bring the budget to XYZ at 3 point whatever percentage. How are we going to do that tonight? Do you have a I could I could calculate and provide. I could So okay, thank you. Sure. Jeeoff, how much of the clerical aid and the instructional assistance duties kind of overlap with the school counselor? Um, none. No, no overlap. Clerical aid, uh, is that Antellini specifically, it provides if any of the lead secretaries at any of the buildings are out, that's a fill-in. Provided support there. Um, it's a safety issue as we talked about with such a large school and having Oakhill here as well. Um, and then the day-to-day operations, they're very different. Instructional assistant is a lot of the preparation for our teachers to be able to execute the curriculum with intense efficiency, especially
054with new curriculum work. So, those positions are very different in themselves and but they don't have any overlap with mental health support or anything like that. The those two are non-certified positions versus a school counselor is a certified licensed position. Two different categories. Are they union positions? The school counselor is No, the clerical and the Yes. Yes, they are. Okay. Yes, sir. No questions. Just to confirm numbers. So the right the IIA is 29,000 clerical 8 is 37,000. So 60 grand from the non-lapsing and seven from the excess would cover their salaries. Yes. Can you use that non-lapsing money for salaries? No. And that was the point that Tim brought up earlier. That would not be against these salaries. That would be against a tuition line for outplacement, which is a volatile line that changes
055and fluctuates. So, it does fit the definition and it's an educational purpose, but the board has to motion to do that. But the numbers still they still line up and they still work. Yes, absolutely. So, while you're all thinking about what you're going to do, can I read something? Absolutely. Okay. After the wonderful three and a half hours the other night, I wrote this up regarding the 2526 budget. I don't feel that you should cut banan chorus math olympiads tag or white white memorial. We do need to reduce our budget with special education costs rising. It probably won't get any better. Many of our town's people can't afford the tax increase that would occur if we proceed with the proposed budget. Many people are struggling to pay for food on their table, heat for their
056homes, clothes for their children, or even gifts for their children at Christmas and birthdays. We need to think how we can do more without all the extra bells and whistles. While it is nice to recognize our children's promotion to the next grade, how much does this cost? Maybe we need to do without that for a while. Why do we spend money to reward an accomplishment that is part of a natural progression? Do they need to be rewarded for growing up? When they move up to third grade, how much is spent on the buses to transport them to look at the school? There could be an open house in the evening for parents and children to see the school. There are some parents who may not have seen the school and maybe they want to experience
057it with their child. Do they really need a sixth grade yearbook? If they do, then let's ask parent volunteers to do the yearbook. For many years, this was done. Now, we're paying a stipen to have it done. The parents that work with these students have been vetted through our security process. While this can't be done this year, we need to start the process of consolidating our schools. Our enrollment is decreasing. If Oakill moved to Bakerville, I think it would be possible to move all the children to Antellini. While this isn't ideal, it would help with all the traveling that some of our teachers do. What we might even have to have some portable classrooms on a temporary basis. We did that at Bakerville and look how long those have been there. They turned out to
058be just fine. And while it's not ideal, we should talk about consolidating classes. Another item to reduce spending. Money spent on a retreat or a meeting. What is wrong with holding a meeting and not serving food or paying a facilitator to lead it? Every penny saved at this point matters. What about cutting back on raises? Not everyone is part of negotiated contracts. If we don't want our children on their devices all the time, why are we providing them with Chromebooks starting in kindergarten? They need the fine motor skills development of pen and paper. They need to develop the muscle memory that occurs when they use pen and paper. Parents at the meeting on Tuesday spoke about ways to get more creative in raising money. Even Dear Dree has mentioned that, you know, we should sell
059ads on the back of the Friday folder. Thank you. Yeah. I just want to point out about this whole declining enrollment that everyone keeps throwing around all the time. So the a the 10-year average of enrollment is 445 students. Back in 2016 when this whole decline enrollment started, there was 443 students in the schools. So there's two students more than 10 years ago when everyone started looking at declining enrollment. That's the 10-year average from our budgets. So and this our superintendent indicated that next year we may have a banner year because of the nine-month blackout that we all suffered through. So let's hold tight on the consolidation talk in my opinion. Um, I would like to make a motion um in um I'd like to make a motion to accept Superintendent Seuss's proposal based on
060the developments of a um savings of $120,000 in the bus contract and $15,000 in the projected administrative assistance retirement, total of $135,000 in savings to our 2526 budget. to remove the eliminations for the school counselor at 71,500. Um the fifth and sixth grade band at 48,000, the talented and gifted and math Olymp, and the White Memorial at 10,150 for a total of 134,650. Uh 134,650. I'll second that. Does that also include the 6? Yes. Fifth grade. Yep. 48,000. So again, it removes the eliminations of those four items against um two of the savings that have developed since we put together our original budget and adopted it. Um does not account for the ECG. Um if we determined that we wanted to increase I watched him first that proposal is essentially the same roughly the same
061percentage increase year you're talking ECG whatever you just said in terms of like what what like with the savings from the bus contract and with retirement putting this stuff back in the budget is that where is that leading Are we still at 4.99? I'm reducing. We have a savings of $135,000 between those two. And I am reinstating $134,650. Basically in the same area, $350, but it's still $4.99. $350 isn't going to change, right? The needle on a $10 million budget. So, we have a a motion by myself and a second by who was that? Penny. Um, any discussion? Can we still vote on the use of the non-lapsing after this? Be a whole separate motion. We're not adopting a budget with my motion. We're just making changes. I think that's great because you still keep
062it at 499. Okay. Seeing no further discussion, anything from you? Sorry. Can you just um can you please repeat what you said as far as what you wanted to put back in and so um still at 499. I wasn't clear on that. Right. So you have $120,000 savings um that has been developed from the bus contract and 15,000 projected for the uh administrative assistant. That's $135,000. What I'm removing as eliminations is 715 for the school counselor, 48,000 for the 6 fifth and sixth grade band, talented and gifted in math Olympiads at 5,000, and White Memorial at 10,150. That total is $134,650. So it's a delta 350. to the 4.99. I wouldn't anticipate that moving other than a tenth or 100th of a point. Does that make sense? Yes, that makes sense. So, the 499 is
063staying we just haven't and because of the bus savings, we're able to bring that money back in is what you're saying and we're able to add some of those other things back in. That is correct. Okay. Is there any additional discussion? I would just add mean. I would have to I'm again if anything it's going to 4.98 if you're wrong. Right. It's the opposite. See no discussion. All those in favor please signify by raising your hand. All those opposed. Dear dream I'm a yes. As long as it stays at 499. Say that again. I I'm in favor of it as long as as I again heard you say it's staying at 499. Yes. Thank you. Okay, that motion passes 810. Dry or Tom, I'm sorry. Okay, floor is open if anyone else would like to
064have further discussion or make any further motions. I'd like to make a motion that we instruct Superintendent Susa to explore combining the position of administrative assistant at central office with the student services administrative assistant and use those savings [Music] to hire back either the instructional assistant or clerical aid previously cut. I will second. Any discussion? But there's a difference in one's part-time and one's full-time. No, I'll clarify. They're both uh part-time 20 hours a week and 24 hours a week. 20 hours a week for instructional assistant, 24 hours a week for the clerical aated entity. Oh, I thought he was talking about the Mike's secretary. That is correct. That is a full-time position for the administrative assistant to the director. So his motion is to have our director of student services administrator take on the
065role for both director of student services and for Jeff. All right. So it would not replace Janet's position. Janet's position at $74,000 is in the budget. Again, I think we we just took 15 of it. of the balance of $60,000 uh would become available to offset instructional assistant or a clerical aid, right? It can't cover both of them um at their current level of part-time employment. And we also need to keep in mind that to have someone leave the union and come to an at will employee to do both these jobs, there'd be a I don't know what uh what we're currently at the union paying our uh 48 48,000 if I could remember all the budgetary numbers. 48k. Okay. So if we have a balance of 60,000 that we're leaving there could be close.
066Any discussion then? Are you saying you'd be you do without an executive assistant? I would be sharing an executive assistant with the director of student services. I don't think that's a good idea. You want to elaborate? because I think Janice's position is too important to be shared with the director of student services. I think her position is too involved [Music] to have it shared. I think she would be the new person would be overwhelmed doing two jobs instead of one. Well, let me ask you a different question. Does Janet have enough free time that she could that person being hired could easily do both jobs at once? No. She wouldn't be there five days a week if that weren't the case. [Music] I don't think it's a good idea. How how were the duties shared
067when when um there was extended absence? So if the individual is out uh in advance with knowledge, there is pre preparation and training. So what that looks like is hey before I go either before work, after work or we got some time throughout the day, let's get together, let me show you what needs to be done. And the list can vary on a daily basis. Parents called for this information. I need to get back to him about that. Um the state reporting needs to be done. I have to work with the data system specialist to provide this. Um, in the meanwhile, she's also juggling going to do and schedule all of the PPTs, entering all of the uh work and reports of our staff into uh Connecticut CT saids. Um, so they were balancing and
068juggling things all over the place, but it does not come without preparation. So, in providing board packets, there's a lot that needs to be done there. It's got to be posted online. It's got to be communicated to Paul so he can be ready to record our custodians, to the school to prepare everything. There's a lot of things that go on all of the time. So that's just one example and but it fluctuates. I'm giving just more recent examples. So if she were out on medical then it's and I'm picking up a lot of those pieces too. Um and anybody else in central office that can help when they can help. Um because I don't want to short change payroll. People will come after us. It won't be pretty. Um and if we don't pay our
069bills, companies won't like that either. So the bookkeeper, payroll office, all of that, all of those things are very critical and they will only help if I have means for them to help. Otherwise, it's longer hours and stay stay after. Someone commented on the overtime that's, you know, in central office line that gets used up very quickly in those types of instances if necessary. So, those are both full-time jobs, correct? They are. Yes, sir. So, it'd be unrealistic to to ask you to take two full-time jobs to turn into one. Penny, I agree. I think the intent would be to propose the position to current person who's done it during Janet's absence, right? To Kellyanne who's in who was the current um administrator to the director of student services. So I don't want to get
070you in any trouble. So we can't legally do that. It's got to be Oh, I'm sorry. Yep. There's got there's more that needs to be done before just making that assumption. We're talking about just two positions and combining them right now. Yep. Without an individual name. Okay. Because then it's okay. Could it won't look good. I don't think you should combine them. Well, I'm going to throw in my two cents as someone that works inside of a school from a teacher perspective. We have a in our system and I think a lot of this is structural because we're not regionalized but we have a very high administrative to student ratio. We have as many uh people if you look at the regional 7 umbrella involved in in administration as Torington does with half the number
071of students. Uh our studenttoteer ratio is pretty typical. So I would ask you to remember what the clerical aid does and the IIA as part of this because you know we wrote a lot of letters about their value as well. [Music] Any additional discussion? I'm I'm again I'm just looking for a way to to keep the student impact down and I see administration as less impactful than these in instructional assistant and or clerical aid. So that was the intent of my discussion point. Any further discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor, please signify. What are we voting on? We are voting on directing Superintendent Susa. Right. directing Superintendent Susa to um study or review the opportunity to eliminate the um or I'm sorry, not replace the current um administrator for the superintendent uh when she
072retires and to combine the position of the administrator for the superintendent and director of student services. And in addition in in using those funds to um keep on the IIA and clerical aid. Tom, could that exploration include maybe replacing two positions with a 1.5 with part-time if that's possible? I wouldn't suppose that I again I'm leaving this up to the experts. So, I'm just I'm putting out an idea that I'm looking to cut some administration in this district that's been on the, you know, discussion points since before I was on this board. Any additional discussion? Right. Seeing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All those closed. I'm I'm good. Good. Which one? Yeah. In favor or not? In favor. Thank you. In favor that motion 720. So yes, that's Albert
073Russell. It's quick math. I get it wrong most of the time. I don't mind you exploring it if you want. I just again I don't think it's a good idea and I'll let Jeff come back to us. Right. I have another comment but I'm not making it. The board just motioned it. So I will do this would not impact the 499. Nope. Okay. Nothing change within the budget. Correct. And again, we won't stay at the there's no action other than him evaluating it. There's no change until he comes back to us and we have a further discussion. So this is just again it opens it for evaluation. Are there any other thoughts? Any other action we want to take on the 2526 budget? I'm interested in going back to that motion that you originally had
074about the non-lapsing account. I'd like to do that before we leave today. So, either you motion or I can motion either one. Um, based on the motion we just had, I don't have another motion. Um, you know, because again, that motion was to was to in in in was to have the funds available if if we wanted them against the budget. So, if you want to make a motion and again we at this point now you'd want to just give a motion and what you'd like to do with the funds. I make a motion to use the approximately $60,000 in the non-lapsing account to help pay for uh retaining uh the clerical aid and possibly the instructional assistant. Just for clarity, the 60K would have to be applied to the variability in outplacement cost. We
075can't apply it directly to a to a recurring position. Does the same thing in the budget, okay? But it has to be applied to a variable or a one-time cost. I'll second it for discussion. Okay. I was going to say, how do I how should I re you basically want to Yeah. Well, you're going to it's a 60k and non-lapsing is going to get applied to the to offset outplace. And just to be clear, if we use that 60k, there's still 107,000 left. Correct. That's correct. Okay, that's good. Have a motion by Eric and a second by Penny. the 60k they will have to or Jeff or Tim both will have to go to the board of finance to ask him to the I don't think it would affect the 4.99 with the board inform
076the board of finance inform the board but it's this is out of their non-lapsing not your combined I've explained a couple months ago that the statutory uh language for any non-lapsing accounts um are have changed. It's just that the board of finance hasn't followed up with that or did not know. So, I brought that information to light um a couple months. I don't remember. I know I know you mentioned it before, but I thought you still had to go to Carrie or to the board of finance for that original account. If we motion it here and it's for educational expenses. Okay, we're good to go. Gotcha. Okay. I would just like to see um instead of doing the 60 just do the 66 back into the budget and then or back into the back into
077the budget so that we can add both of those positions back with no issue. But you can't use it for sales recurring, right? We we'll put it back into the we we'll put it back into the budget for other things and then put these two positions back in. That would reduce the 107 to 101, right? What about that seven that seven? Are we going to consider that $7,000 excess, right? Excess and then that would still keep it at 60, right? I think there's still I think it might get rescended. It might change. It might That's what I'm asking for. I understand what you're saying, but I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna say just give it a few minutes and we'll we'll give you exactly what's out there, I think, based on the conversation because it
078may change if I gave you what it is. Can I just simplify it and just say I', you know, motion to bring the money back into the budget and then period. That's it. Uh, we have to apply it, right? So, again, we just have to say where it's being applied to to tuition. Okay. To out placement, tuition, outplacement, whatever. All right. So, my I think Tim is offering Yeah. a modification to it. So, yeah, I would support that modification. So, I All right. I would like to amend Well, I don't have a motion yet. So, come up with a new motion. I'd like to make a motion to add $66,000 into the budget for tuition reasons from the non-lapsing from the non-lapsing account. Anything else? Second. All right. So, Liz, the motion, as I understand
079it, and correct me if I'm wrong, is to approve applying $66,000 from the non-lapsing account against outplacement tuition and use the savings to remove the elimination of the IIA position at $29,000 and the clerical aid at $37,000. So, we have a motion by Eric. Did we get a second? I'll second. Have a second by Tim. Now, that doesn't address what Megan was bringing up. end of the year if there's a budget savings. So what that does is that'll take the non-lapsing account and bring it down to $156,000. Is that accurate? $155,000 155 the whole thing. So that's 114 + 107 is 221 plus 66us the 60 66 66 minus the deficit right? Yeah. Yeah. The 56 - 55 that doesn't make sense. somewhere around there. No, it's they were both 100. This is what we
080did here. We had 107 and 114. So that's $221,000. 21. We're banking 55 for this year's deficit. Yeah, correct. And that left you with how much? 59K for non-lapsing. So take the 59 plus the money from this year. 59 plus 59 plus plus 101. Okay. So that's 160. That doesn't make sense. Makes sense. I'm trying not to use my phone. I'm removing the 55 for the deficit which leaves 59K. So from 59K added to the other 107. Hold on. Your deficit numbers are Yeah, this is from this year we're going to be So we said we had 114. Hold on. We have 114. We said the deficit we were going to remove 60. So that means that the deficit number was going to be we're going to move 60 leaving $54,000 for the deficit. All
081right. So, we left $54,000 for the deficit in there. Mhm. That's removing 60. Then we had 107 and we're taking six from that. Six from that. Moving 101. 101. Yep. So, total you've got 155 left, but that includes the deficit. Yeah. Right. So, we only have $101,000 left. That's accurate. That's right. Exactly like that. Yeah, everyone at home follow along. Yep, that's correct. All right, so we have a motion and a [Music] second. Any discussion? I'm for this, but we are kicking the can down the road a little here and we aren't always going to get a lifeline like we did with the bus contract this year. And we need to remember this because we're gonna have to look at some long-term structural systemic things I think to keep this from happening. We got lucky
082this year with the bus contract, I think. But that lifeline won't come next year. You're right. Long contract. We have a negative this year, but next year we have a plus four. Yes. Negative one plus four. Well, again, this motion isn't going to pre preclude my previous motion of looking to consolidate administrative costs. That's correct. That's correct. It does not. That motion already passed. I guess if there's any year where we should kick the can down the road, it might be this one. Considering all of the uh all the comments from the the the town Yeah, I agree. But we need to plan it long term. I have a question. Can you guys hear me? There's any further discussion. Dear, I have a question. Go ahead. Um, I don't think that we should be taking
083money from the law the non-lapsing account um to to fund this at all. So, I'm not in favor of this. And my biggest question is the you know, what's going to happen next? We're not planning for the future. What's going to happen for next year? Where's the money going to come from for next year and the year after? And we're going to have a a higher increase in special education as we keep doing every single year. The money in the budget is going to keep going up. So, I want to know what the plan is for the next couple of years. I think we're being I think we're being fiscally fiscally irresponsible by taking the money out of that account. So, I'm not I'm definitely not in favor of that. Okay, thank you. It's not
084going to look very good when we have $200,000 in a in an account yet we cut two very positions in the school system. Visually, that does not look good. The town don't appreciate that by time the voting public Is there any further discussion? The money's income like when you have this underground storage problem going down the road that money go. Is that correct? Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Because that's 250,000 per tank and we have what? Four tanks. Correct. So that's that's thousand dollars. Yeah, that's a million. A million. Sorry. A million dollars. And that would have to be a discussion board of finance and town to you know that would be a bonded project. That's right. But still it would help. We're I agree. We're just we're kicking the can down the road. We have to
085make cuts this year. We can't keep borrowing and saying we have this money in the non-lapsing account. Let's use it. Pretty soon we're not going to have any money left for that real emergency. I just feel like every year we're taking away from regular education for the sake of special education, which I know we have to do, but there needs to be some other plan that we can look into, whether it's just regionalizing special education or something along those lines to limit that cost. Otherwise, we're just going to hurt the regular education every single year to the point where it's like total detriment. They'll be part of the special education program as well. Keep in mind some of these some of these outplaced special education students will move on to region 7 and they will
086will move on out of the school system and that could help us in the future. If they go to regional 7 though, we'll still have half that cost, right, in the town budget because we still have to we're still part of region 7. So, we still have to provide for them until they age out or we no longer have to pay for them. It won't be in our budget, but it'll be in the town budget, right? One way or another, we're paying for those children and that's fine, but it just wouldn't be in our budget and we're worried about our budget. Tim, I agree with you. And I think when you look at our um the number of students that receive special ed services, it's a high number compared to state averages. And we need
087to examine that. Good schools attract people from other towns to come in here and we're a good school system. That's why we have a higher number of special education students. Jeff, can you to Tim's point the the instructional assistant and clerical aid, if you had to balance the two on which side of a falls on would you fall that fall under more special ed or more regular ed? Who would who benefits more from those two positions? Um both all students do, but regular ed is probably the the greater benefactor, but curriculum is for all, right? Um and clerical aid, you know, is for all as well. But if I had to select what side it would fall on, it would be regular education. So, not that I don't want my I don't want taxes raised,
088but again, that's really where you're looking at if you wanted to not touch this non-lapsing account and and raise the 4.99 up. Um, that's where you'd have to go and raise. I don't know what uh what $66,000 does to that 4.9i, but if you're not going to touch that nonpsy account, that's where it have to come from. If uh unless you could find some savings in your consolidation of overhead. Any further discussion? All right. All those in favor of the motion to use $66,000 in an unlapsing account to offset outplacement cost to fund the um IIA and cleric assistant. All those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All those opposed. I'm opposed. Dear, I'm sorry, we didn't hear you. Go ahead. I am opposed to the vote. Opposed. Thank you. That motion passes.
089Uh, six. I'm sorry. 5 4 0 two again. I got your dream. That's right. All the motions should line up tonight. I hope. 540. It passes. So with all those changes, can you give us a new total should be slight should be $350? That's all it is. The net differences. I mean I guess I should start. Does anybody have any additional actions on the 2526 budget? Seeing none, can I get a motion to adopt a budget, a 2526 budget for 10,324,676 that is a 4.99% increase maintains what we had and send to the board of finance. Have a motion by Tom, second by Frank. Is there any discussion? What's that number again? 324. Uh, seeing none, all those in favor, please signify by raising your hand. All those opposed. Can you please repeat the motion?
090I'm sorry it's hard to hear you guys. The motion is to um send a 2526 budget the 2526 year budget in the at the value of 10,324,676 that maintains a 4.99% increase uh to the board of finance. Okay. Yay or no? Yes. Thank you. That motion passes. 7 um 810. Okay. As today's a special meeting, that concludes our discussion on the 2526 budget. The next item on the agenda is adjournment. I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. So moved. Moved by Penny at second 726. 7:26 7:26 Did we get a second? Second and Tim. All those in favor? Thank you. Thank you all again. Thank you all for coming down here at last minute.