Schools facing cuts as Westport deals with $489K budget deficit

WESTPORT — The selectmen’s most recent proposed budget for fiscal 2021 is at a deficit of around $489,000, according to Town Administrator Timothy King at last week’s selectmen meeting.

Selectmen and King, as well as Finance Committee members, have been mulling strategies for narrowing the gap.

The deficit is connected partially to less beneficial state assessments for the town.

King last week proposed some budget-saving initiatives, including scratching some proposed new positions from the fiscal 2021 budget — an assistant town planner, a deputy police chief and an additional firefighter/paramedic.

Selectmen last week also expressed concern over how the school department will be able to deal with the deficit.

“None of them I am real happy about,” King said about his proposals for cuts. “Certainly the school department will be less happy.”

Earlier this year, Superintendent Gary Reese unveiled a budget 3.7% higher than this school year, but the increase was connected mostly to contractual salary increases. To make matters worse, more than 80% of the school budget is connected to salary, giving Reese and school authorities fewer areas to cut.

Reese and his staff worked to make cuts, trimming the proposed increase to 3%. However, Reese told the School Committee recently that his number was roughly $13,000 higher than King’s proposal for school spending in fiscal 2021.

Reese and Business Manager Michelle Rapoza mentioned that the district’s proposed cuts could lead to dangerous areas, as special education funding could force school authorities into more spending. With school choice and the opportunity for out-of-district students to come to Westport, a student with expensive special needs could come into the district.

That student’s needs could force more cuts in other areas, school authorities noted at a recent meeting.

Selectmen touched upon the tight spending and small cut areas of the school budget.

King also proposed spending less on unemployment in fiscal 2021, considering his original line item was higher than the average. King also proposed some changes to marine services to cut expenses.

Selectmen are also mulling over if the town should utilize one-time funds in fiscal 2021. The Finance Committee, however, warns against the practices of using one-time funds for the operating budget.

As for police and fire, the respective chiefs of both departments mentioned that for decades, the staffing of each department has not increased.

Police Chief Keith Pelletier mentioned that the deputy chief position has gone unfilled for several years.

Selectmen discussed half-year spending on the requested additional staffing positions in both departments.

Selectmen Vice Chairman Brian Valcourt said that if these positions are added, even part-time, and positions are eliminated within the school department, it would be a “tough sell” to Town Meeting voters.

“They (the schools) are already bare bones as it is,” Valcourt said. “It is a hard sell if we are trying to add people to public safety and they have to eliminate people from public education.”