Staff Writer

The Board of Education hopes to tap town money and add additional department funds to bolster its 2011 school budget that voters rejected May 11.

In a resolution passed Monday, the board agreed to use $100,000 from a teacher accrual fund and seek $100,000 to $200,000 from municipal surplus to add to the proposed $34.9 million budget. The revised school budget would not increase property tax rates beyond the 48 cents currently projected by combining the fiscal year 2011 municipal and school budgets.

The anticipated increase in the tax rate from $12.15 to $12.63 would add $144 to the tax bill on a property valued at $300,000.

The proposed budget was turned down 493-483. On a nonbinding question, 490 voters said the budget was too low and 387 said it was too high. The nonbinding question was cited in the board resolution as a reason to seek more money.

Councilors began discussions of the revised school budget at Wednesday’s meeting, held after the Leader deadline. They were expected to vote on dates for a first reading of the revised budget and a second referendum vote.

The proposed date for the first reading is 3:30 p.m. Monday at Town Hall followed by a June 2 public hearing and second reading and a referendum June 8 when party primary and state referendum votes take place.

Board of Education Chairman Brian Dell’Olio said additional budget funding would be used for salaries, which would avert job eliminations. The budget voters rejected called for elimination of 31 positions.

The teacher accrual fund, which finance committee Chairman Bob Mitchell estimates at $2.6 million, is set aside to pay salaries to teachers who may not return to the department but still are under contract until Aug. 31.

The board tapped the fund for $300,000 to bolster the operating budget last  month with the provision the money will be repaid over the next three years. The fund has been accumulated over the last decade, and about $140,000 would be needed this year to meet obligations created by eliminating 31 positions, Mitchell said.

The board cited the narrow margin of defeat and follow-up question as reasons to seek more funding.

It will be up to councilors to decide how much, if any municipal surplus will be added to the budget. Councilors could also decide to reduce the school budget from its current amount but cannot direct how the money is spent, according to the town charter.

Proposed school spending for 2011 has increased from $34.4 million since it initially was proposed in February to at least $35 million with the addition of state aid. More than $106,000 in state aid also is available to the board because it will not be needed to pay for support staff to help integrate laptops into the high school.

Councilors earlier this month removed a plan to spend $668,000 to buy 1,100 laptops for high school students from the capital improvements bond.

As board members considered the revised resolution Monday, about 30 district employees, parents and children gathered in council chambers to share ideas on where additional money should go.

The comments were capped by resident Susan Snowden’s plea to restore more than five special education positions spread in elementary, intermediate and middle schools.

Citing benefits early special education provided for her daughter, Snowden told board members special education costs can be reduced overall by providing services to younger students in need.

Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219