Council Passes Danbury Mayor's $227 Million Budget

DANBURY, Conn. - Amid concerns over communication between the Danbury City Council and Board of Education, the Danbury Public Schools received the $2.5 million increase suggested by Mayor Mark Boughton.

Ralph Pietrafesa, co-president for the Danbury City Wide Parent Teacher Organization implored the council to keep Mayor Mark Boughton's proposed $2.5 million increase to the school's budget to help alleviate the increasing burden from parents.
Photo Credit: *Alissa Smith*

by Alissa Smith

05/08/2013 2:00 a.m.

The full proposed budget of just over $227 million includes $118.5 for the schools, which was the only point of conversation among council members when they voted Tuesday night. The City Council Committee on Education proposed that the school budget only increase by $1.25 million. That proposal failed in a vote of 6 to 13.

By far, one of the only reasons council members voted to approve the Mayor's budget was because they felt the school district needed the money.

Council member Philip Curran said that he was voting for the Mayor's budget, with reservations.

Every council member cautioned the Board of Education and the school administration that a more detailed accounting of where the district spends their money was going to be required in the future.

A school by school breakdown was requested by Council Member Michael Haddad as well as several other members.

For Council Member Colleen Stanley, the lack of information in this years budget process was the last straw. "It's time to get tough," she said adding that she was standing by the committees recommendation to reduce the increase.

The remaining parts of the budget, which included the general government budget, public works, heath and housing, public safety, welfare and social services budgets all passed through the council unopposed and unanimously.

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