The school department budget was cut by about $100,000 and City Councilor Daniel C. Hagan said that Superintendent Nancy Follansbee promised no teacher layoffs.
EASTHAMPTON – The City Council unanimously passed a balanced fiscal 2012 budget that preserves the four-day city work week and will not require municipal employee layoffs, but leaves vacant positions unfilled and makes a slight cut to the school department that might be rectified by paraprofessional layoffs.
The $33.9 million budget is 2.1 percent higher than fiscal 2011’s and uses several sources of non-recurring funds, like the stabilization fund and the debt exclusion override voters approved last year for the construction of the new high school. Property taxes will rise by the highest rate allowed by law, 2.5 percent.
Although non-union city employees will receive a step increase, a cost-of-living increase is not in the cards. Public works will see a reduction in seasonal employees while vacant positions for a police captain and a fire department deputy will remain unfilled.
The school department budget was cut by about $100,000 and City Councilor Daniel C. Hagan said that Superintendent Nancy Follansbee promised no teacher layoffs. In order to make up the difference, though, paraprofessionals may be let go.
“I don’t think she was firm on that,” said Hagan. “But there would be no reduction in classroom teachers.”
Follansbee could not be reached for comment, but she has said that the department is still considering its options and positions left vacant by retirements will not be filled.
The budget provides funding for fire department equipment upgrades, the 2012 art display Bear Fest and a new police cruiser, along with many other projects and departments that will receive more funding than in fiscal 2011.