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Date: 3/8/2023
LUDLOW — Town Administrator Marc Strange broke the news at the Board of Selectmen’s Feb. 21 that Superintendent Frank Tiano and the School Committee may be considering a significant budget increase.
Strange said, “The School Committee is currently considering a 9 percent increase which represents a $3.1 million increase over the fiscal year 2023 (FY23) budget. That would be a level service budget for the schools.”
Strange added that to help with the school’s potential budgetary deficit, he has asked every department to submit a list of fees that are set at the local level.
“With the Board of Selectmen’s blessing we will meet with each department and review all the fees and see which ones are due for an increase. We want to make sure our fees are in line with neighboring cities and towns,” Strange said.
This announcement from Strange raised a lot of concerns and questions from the Board of Selectmen who expressed it is impossible to grant that increase.
The biggest concern is that the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds have run out after three years, leading to a $1.6 million reduction to the operating budget.
Selectman Bill Rosenblum said, “A nine percent or $3 million increase is not going to happen. Dr. Tiano and the School Committee have been put in a tough situation with ESSER funding being budgeted in and wanting to continue to use those funded positions with the towns money. There are other line items that took big jumps, and I will have questions about that.”
He added, “A year ago the schools put themselves in a tough situation with money they did not have. Money that they had through ESSER but just like ARPA, the funds was not to fund permanent positions.”
Selectman Derek DeBarge said, “A 9 percent increase is ludicrous to think of. When we met with the School Committee last time, it was a 7 percent increase. I am confused because 3 percent is level funding with the increases, they were given but they needed another 4 and a half increase to cover what they spent with their ESSER funds which doesn’t sustain that. How did it get higher.”
In a past presentation, Tiano showed how the enrollment of the schools have decreased over the years.
Since FY19, the overall enrollment of Ludlow schools has gone down by 282 students, but the cost has not decreased.
DeBarge asked, “I understand a drop in enrollment doesn’t necessarily mean a drop in a budget request but if we are going to try to meet and help, I am interested to meet because I need to hear drastic changes with this budge. You can’t move forward with this type of burden.”
Rosenblum added, “If you go ahead and give a 9 percent increase, which we know we are not going to give, you set a bad precedent. It would basically eliminate every other project we want to do in this town. Even if we had the money, I would not want to do it because it sets a trend to continue asking for more money.”
Some projects to which Rosenblum referred are the use of ARPA funds to build a new track and field at Ludlow High School, the demolition of Veterans Park Elementary School and improvements to Whitney Park.
The town is also working on fixing the Town Hall roof and asbestos remediation, a Town Hall HVAC and Public Safety complex HVAC replacement projects, according to Strange.
“We are working on reallocating money from past projects to work on the Town Hall roof, but the HVAC upgrades will cost $2.4 million each,” Strange added.
Board of Selectmen Vice Chair James Gennette said, “I agree this request for an increase is ridiculous. The school department wants to have all their projects. If they value their special education program, that’s fine. They want a robust special education program. If they want a robust athletic department or if they want little class size that is all fine, but they need to decide because they can’t have everything.”
The School Committee has directed the administration to prioritize maintaining small class size, continuing its relationship with Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, scheduling the arts, music and choir, supporting people with a focus on mental health, and maintaining bus transportation costs.
Gennette added, “If they can’t afford all the brick and mortar they have, maybe it is time to figure out how to move East Street Elementary School. If they can bring the kids over to Harris Brook Elementary School and we can have three schools instead of two elementary schools, then they can save themselves a lot of money.” The School Committee, Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee were set to meet on Feb. 28 to discuss the budget but had to reschedule due to inclement weather.