Schools

Next Year's Snow Costs Could Close Stratford School

Should the education budget or the municipal budget pay for snow removal at Stratford schools?

The cost of removing snow from Stratford school parking lots, sidewalks and steps might be charged to the education budget next fiscal year, which starts July 1, 2012.

Snow removal costs for this winter will be paid with the municipal budget.

If the responsibility is swapped from the municipal budget to the education budget, "something else has got to go," said school board member Joseph Crudo.

And that something could be a school, he said.

Right now the Board of Education is waiting to hear back from Mayor John A. Harkins, who asked the school board to look into what it would cost for it to pay for snow removal at Stratford's 13 schools and administrative building.

Crudo said Michael Feeney, the school board's chief operating officer, received quotes of $250,000 and $350,000 for snow removal on the grounds of Stratford schools. The larger number assumes a more snowy season.

A call to the Mayor's office Monday morning was not returned as of late Monday evening. Also, Stratford Patch was told Michael Feeney wouldn't be available for comment until Thursday.

Crudo and other school board members are . The education budget for this fiscal year, which started July 1, was , a 1.08 percent increase from the year before.

The town's 2011-12 municipal budget .

If there's no increase in next year's education budget and that budget is responsible for paying for snow removal at Stratford schools, Crudo said there's the possibility of a school having to close in order to save on operational costs.

Crudo, who served on the Stratford Town Council from 2003-05, said the municipal budget has always paid for town-wide snow removal costs. He said he didn't know why Mayor Harkins is contemplating a switch.

"We hope to hear back soon," he said. "We have to send our budget to the Town Council in February."

Find out what's happening in Stratfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Editor's note: This article's original date of publication, Tuesday, Dec. 6, has been changed for layout purposes.

Let us know which budget you think should foot the bill by voting in our poll.

Find out what's happening in Stratfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here