Tuesday, July 3, 2012
The bill increases public aid while not raising taxes.
While the Board of Aldermen passed Newton's budget back in May, the Massachusetts House and Senate overwhelming passed a $32.5 billion state budget last week and Gov. Deval Patrick has until July 8 to review and sign it, or to issue vetoes. This year's state budget provided a boost in funding for the Newton Public Schools, as Gov. Patrick proposed a record-high amount in state aid to local schools. In addition to the state aid, Newton also benefitted from settling all of its union contracts prior to budget deliberations -- something Mayor Setti Warren says will save the city more than $100 million over the next five years. The thrust of the bill is to shore up aid to public programs while at the same time not increasing the burden to …
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The aldermen offered a budget resolution recommending the School Department, School Committee, Board of Aldermen and city administration thoroughly review the School Department's student activity fees.
Five weeks after Mayor Setti Warren first presented the numbers, the Newton Board of Aldermen last night approved the city's fiscal 2013 budget in addition to the five year, fiscal 2013-fiscal 2017 Capital Improvement Plan. The bottom line approved by the board totaled roughly $375.8 million, which includes $313 million in general funds for all the city departments as well as all of the water/sewer utility funds, community preservation funds, gift and grants as well as other revolving accounts. The final vote was 22-0; Aldermen Carleton Merrill and Marc Laredo were absent. "Thank you for your leadership and your incredible work," Mayor Warren said in a brief address to the board last night. "I look forward to the work we have to come." …
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Newton City Hall
1000 Commonwealth Ave, Newton, MA
/articles/newton-aldermen-pass-fy-13-budget-five-year-capital-plan
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Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Newton Board of Aldermen are hoping that the Executive and Planning Departments will consider adding another planner position to help move along city projects and bring in additional tax revenue.
Several Newton aldermen last night supported a fiscal 2013 budget resolution that requests the city look into hiring an additional planner for the Planning Department in order to move projects along and bring in more tax revenue for the city. The resolution was part of last night's Committee of the Whole fiscal 2013 budget discussion, which included review of nearly 20 city department budgets and several resolutions that will be passed off to the mayor's office for consideration before a final budget vote. The Planning Department budget resolution, which was proposed by Aldermen Susan Albright, David Kalis and Ted Hess-Mahan, looks to provide more personnel in a department that is "extremely busy." "There are plenty of projects waiting …
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Newton Mayor Setti Warren's proposed fiscal 2013 budget funds the start of a prioritized Capital Improvement Plan, but a "comprehensive" plan to address city/school facilities will not come until the fall.
In his annual budget address to the Newton Board of Aldermen tonight, Mayor Setti Warren presented a fiscal 2013 plan that looks to maintain a focus on city infrastructure as well as operational and financial efficiencies. The approximate $313 million proposed budget, Warren said, does not include any layoffs, adds several new positions, and keeps the city on a path toward "long-term financial stability." "It’s clear that if we are going to continue to be the city we expect to be it means being efficient, transparent, and cost effective," Warren said in his address. "It means being responsible with every tax payer dollar that goes into local government. It also means offering real solutions to meet our challenges in the future." To read …
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Newton City Hall
1000 Commonwealth Ave, Newton, MA
/articles/mayor-fy-13-budget-tackles-infrastructure-focuses-on-efficiency
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/locations/6822248
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
With savings found in the budget, the School Department will be able to add back some elementary art time and the district's One to One program.
The Newton School Committee unanimously approved the district's $178.8 million fiscal 2013 budget last night, numbers that focus on hiring teachers and maintaining services to handle an increase of nearly 200 students next year. The numbers also include money for additional time in elementary art classes, which were cut from 60 to 45 minutes last year. According to Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Joe Russo, some savings were recently found in the budget that allowed adding back a few minutes to the art time. During a public hearing on the budget last week, several art faculty and parents stood up in support of adding back the 15 minutes of art time that was cut last year. Unlike fourth grade chorus, the art time was not…
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Newton Public Schools - Education Center
100 Walnut St, Newtonville, MA
/articles/newton-school-committee-approves-178-8m-budget-some-art-time-added-back
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Wednesday, March 21, 2012
A number of parents also came out to voice their concerns about the elimination of the district's One to One Program.
The Newton School Committee meeting room was filled with posters last night as a crowd of art teachers gathered to advocate for elementary art class time. "Restore Elem. Art FTEs!" the posters read. The group of 10-12 teachers sat in on the School Department's fiscal 2013 budget hearing hoping to convince the School Committee to restore 15 minutes of elementary art class time and art teacher positions. During last year's budget cycle, the School Department decided to reduce elementary art 60 to 45 minutes per week. That time was not restored in this year's budget. "Losing a quarter of class time that only meets once a week dramatically impacts instruction and learning," said Memorial-Spaulding Art Teacher Alexandra Etscovitz. "So much of …
42.35624
-71.20933
Newton Public Schools - Education Center
100 Walnut St, Newtonville, MA
/articles/newton-faculty-parents-push-committee-to-restore-art-time
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/locations/6632619
Friday, March 16, 2012
The Newton School Committee took a straw vote last night on the fiscal 2013 budget.
Although a final vote will not come until later this month, the Newton School Committee last night gave its initial approval of the proposed $178.8 million fiscal 2013 budget. The committee voted unanimously in favor of the budget, which includes funding for additional teachers needed to handle an enrollment increase of nearly 200 students. "This budget is not at all what I was expecting coming off last year," said Ward 8 committee member Margie Ross Decter. "I want to thank the mayor, [Chief Financial Officer] Maureen Lemieux, [Deputy Superintendent/Chief Administrative Officer] Sandy Guryan, Superintendent David Fleishman, the public and our employees who have made this all possible. This was a case where everyone was thinking about …
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The Newton School Committee has heard presentations on different areas of the budget and is scheduled to take a straw vote on the budget tonight.
Superintendent David Fleishman unveiled his $178.8 million fiscal 2013 budget last week,highlighting the fact that there will be no teacher cuts and some program restoration. Starting last Thursday, the School Committee began a series of working sessions with different parts of the budget. During their first meeting, the group reviewed regular instruction budgets at elementary and secondary schools as well as budgets for technology, English Language Learners (ELL) and teaching and learning. Earlier this week, the committee continued the budget discussion for student services and non-instructional areas. Career and technical education budgets were also briefly discussed, but there will not be any major changes in fiscal 2013. The …
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The Newton School Committee has heard presentations on different areas of the budget and could take a straw vote tomorrow (Thursday, March 15).
Superintendent David Fleishman unveiled his $178.8 million fiscal 2013 budget last week, highlighting the fact that there will be no teacher cuts and some program restoration. Starting last Thursday, the School Committee began a series of working sessions with different parts of the budget. During their first meeting, the group reviewed regular instruction budgets at elementary and secondary schools as well as budgets for technology, English Language Learners (ELL) and teaching and learning. Earlier this week, the committee continued the budget discussion for student services, career and technical education as well as non-instructional areas. Fleishman reiterated last week that much of the budget will be used to cover an influx of nearly …
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Roughly 1 percent of the budget increase this year will handle the district's enrollment increase.
After facing a tough budget season last year, Newton Superintendent David Fleishman said Monday he feels "pretty good" about this year's school budget numbers. The superintendent's proposed $178.8 million fiscal 2013 budget does not include any teacher cuts and will restore some programs including mental health support and fourth grade chorus. "I think last year really took a lot out of people," Fleishman said in a meeting with local reporters Monday afternoon. "I think this budget allows us to get better." The fiscal 2013 budget will increase 4.1 percent from last year, or roughly $7 million. Approximately $1.7 million of that increase is set aside to handle an additional 192 students in the 2012-2013 school year, Fleishman said. Last …
