School Brass Pressed On Construction Costs

School officials appeared at a once-a-year budget grilling, and said it doesn’t make sense to respond to tough budget times by rolling back construction projects.

Doing so would mean forfeiting already-committed money from the state — and losing money overall.

That answer came in response to a question by East Rock Alderman Justin Elicker as officials like Schools Superintendent Reggie Mayo (at left in above photo) and Chief Administrative Officer Will Clark (at right) appeared before a hearing of the Board of Aldermen’s Finance Committee Tuesday night.

The school officials spent an hour answering questions. Then officials from the Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament, Chapel West and Grand Avenue special service districts, and city budget and parks departments answered questions for another hour.

It was the fourth budget workshop and fifth public meeting the Finance Committee has held on the $476.3 million proposed new city budget, to take effect July 1. The hearings offer the public a detailed annual look at how the city spends tax dollars. (Click here to read what happened at last week’s hearing, at which other department heads testified.)

We live-blogged Tuesday night’s hearing. Following is a blow-by-blow account of the proceedings, as the evening unfolded.

Live-blogging commences below. (Note: only text inside quotation marks is directly quoted; the rest is paraphrasing and observations.)

5:59 p.m.: Aldermen are taking their seats, thick budget binders at the ready.

6:02:Finance Committee Chairman Yusuf Shah is calling the meeting to order by banging the ceremonial quartz (?) rock. Aldermen Justin Elicker, Stephanie Bauer, Andrea Jackson-Brooks, Jorge Perez, and Maureen O’Sullivan-Best are seated at the table. Alderman Roland Lemar arrives.

6:04:Alderwoman Bitsie Clark has arrived. There are a couple dozen people here in the audience, mostly department heads.

6:02:Fair Haven Alderwoman Migdalia Castro has arrived. The Board of Education (BOE) is up first. Chief Operating Officer Will Clark and Superintendent Reggie Mayo take their seats. Clark is passing out an information packet.

Mayo urges aldermen to read the packet for details about recent school district accomplishments.

Clark presents overview of the $3 million increase the BOE is requesting and how it will be used. The request was unanimously approved by the BOE.

Clark: The average budget increase in recent years has been 1.88 percent. ​“We have always balanced our budget.” This year, there’s only a 1.7 percent increase. The bulk of the increase, almost $2 million, is salaries.

Clark mentions last year’s landmark contract negotiations, which did include a salary increase for teachers. Outside of spending on salaries, the rest of the budget is mostly in areas that are ​“pretty fixed”: transportation, plant operations. (Even with more square footage of schools, there’s only a ​“modest increase,” in costs, because of more efficient energy systems.)

Clark: Also important to note: Last year there was a 0 percent increase to BOE budget. ​“We’re not coming in here looking for 5 or 6 percent. …We’re coming in with the bare bone.”

6:13:Alderman Carl Goldfield has arrived, carrying his bike helmet.

Clark: Innovation Based Budgeting is ​“old hat” for the BOE. IBB is a new feature of the mayor’s overall city budget this year. ​“We’ve had no choice but to be innovative,” Clark says.

He lists accomplishments: The school food program has taken off, including a meeting last week between Michelle Obama and New Haven’s ​“food dude”, Tim Cipriano. The BOE has ​“gone paperless.”

Clark: ​“We are the best urban district in the state of Connecticut.”

Back to Mayo, who says they are ready for questions.

Jorge Perez: Asks for copy of BOE budget. He’s told it’s available.

Perez asks about custodial costs. Will they stay the same?

Clark: Budget assumes flat custodial costs because ​“we are in negotiations.”

Perez: I expect through negotiations there may be savings. When will you know?

Clark: I’m bound by rules not to comment on negotiations.

6:19:Lemar: It appears there’s a cut in the funding for kindergarten through grade three.

Clark: [Complicated answer. Basically money comes from different places and is accounted for in different ways, but there is no huge cut, despite appearances.]

6:24: Perez: Again asks for clear numbers.

Lemar wants an overview of the $2.4 million increase in the capital, non-construction budget.

To answer, Clark calls in three suits from the ​“bullpen.” They are members of the facility management team), he says. Clark circulates a PowerPoint print-out.

Clark begins a presentation of BOE facilities costs. First, general repairs (preventive and long-term). The BOE recently instituted an online work-order system to track repairs. This is in line with the goal of being a ​“data-driven school system,” says Clark. The work order system helps schedule future maintenance as well.

6:31: Clark continues listing capital costs: Money goes to ​“big ticket items” like roof repairs, like replacing gym floors, and safety items, like emergency lighting. BOE is responsible for 4 million square feet of building space. The school system also pays for energy conserving systems like motion sensor lights. ​“We are a model in the state in that regard.” The district has to pay for computers. The life of a computer is seven or eight years.

“I love capital budget. I could talk all night about it,” Clark says.

6:37: Elicker wants to know how much of the remainder of the $1.5 billion citywide school construction is paid for by the city.

Clark goes back to the ​“bullpen” to bring up the ​“school construction guys,” including Tom Roger.

Elicker: Capital projects for school construction cost how much?

Tom Roger: There are several categories. There is an increase in $1.2 million in city funding for eight projects. There are four new projects, including three magnet schools and an early learning center, that will complete the school construction program.

Elicker: There is $45 million in city capital projects in the budget. What is the portion allocated for school construction?

Roger: $17 million for the new projects, plus $1.2 for ongoing projects, plus another $4 million in non-construction projects.

Elicker: So about $23 million?

Roger: Yes.

6:45: Elicker: We’re up to 14 percent of the city’s budget going towards debt service, much of that because of capital projects. Ideally, no more than 10 percent of the budget should be spent on that. Can we extend any construction projects in order to lower that percentage?

Roger: ​“It’s not a commitment that hits the city’s books this year.”

Elicker: What is the cost for delaying projects?

Roger: You risk losing state funding. ​“That’s the biggest risk.”

Elicker: How close are you getting to matching your projected costs to actual costs?

Roger: Much better. In the 14 years of this program, 14 of the 32 projects we’ve completed have gone completely through audit.

Elicker: How many years until we are completely finished?

Roger: Including state audits, 2016 or 2017.

6:5:- Elicker asks Mayo: Can you talk about changes in the number of BOE staff positions?

Mayo: ​“We’re going to be as prudent as we can.” Some people will retire, leaving vacancies. I’m not going to promise we won’t have to add staff. We’re putting in four federal grants, one for $30 million. We’re not talking about adding 10 or 20 positions, just a couple. We’re going to try to ​“squeeze people as much as we can.”

6:54: Castro speaks up: We’ve seen a decrease in state funding. Dr. Mayo, can you tell us how much you’ve received? Will we need to close schools if funding decreases continue?

Mayo: If cuts continue, ​“We probably will have to close schools.” The BOE is ​“shaving” everywhere we can.

Castro: What has been the decrease in state funding in the last three years?

Mayo: It’s been flat. Level.

6:59: And Board of Education is done! That was a big part of the agenda, and took about an hour.

Next up is Pilot Pen, which is currently looking for a new name and main sponsor after this year’s tourney. Anne Worcester and Bruno Baggetta take center stage. Worcester is the head of Pilot Pen and Market New Haven. She’ll be presenting on both tonight.

Worcester: Pilot Pen’s overall budget is $4.5 million. The tournament took a hit last year because of Hurricane Danny, which rained out several important matches.

The city contributes $135,000 to Pilot Pen. ​“The city receives an enormous return on its investment,” Worcester says.

That return comes in four ways, Worcester says:

1.Economic impact: $26 million per year to the city, according to a study

2.Community tennis programs: 3,500 kids in programs since 2004. Five New Haven kids have been sent to state championships in the last two years. City participation is multicultural. ​“The African American percentage remains strong.” There’s been a ​“real spike” in Latino and Asian participation. Tennis courts around town were resurfaced last year. There will be an ​“exciting announcement” on those courts soon, but Worcester says she doesn’t want to give away ​“the secret” quite yet. [Hmmm. Any guesses what that is?] Worcester credits Alderwoman Castro for pushing her to increase Latino participation in tennis in New Haven.

3. Exposure for the city: The tournament is televised in 170 countries. The ​“total impressions” for New Haven in ​“all of our advertising” last year were 530,000,000.

4.Market New Haven: Pilot Pen staff serve as the marketing arm for the city.

Worcester: There’s something different this year. ​“We’re at a critical juncture.” The Pilot Pen company is not going to renew its sponsorship. Worcester says she’s been looking for a new $10 million sponsor. ​“We are leaving no stone unturned.” But, we don’t have a new sponsor yet. ​“We cannot run this tournament without a title sponsor.” All the above accomplishments are contingent on finding one.

Most of all, ​“This tournament makes this city a more interesting place to live and to work and to play… I hope I’ll be here next year.”

Perez thanks Worcester for helping New Haven to have a girls-only tennis team.

Worcester: It’s very important for girls. She presents a photo of the team, clad in purple uniforms, which elicits an ​“Aww” from Castro.

“I already have that photo at home,” brags Perez.

Worcester: The most likely title sponsors for the tournament would be financial services or insurance companies.

7:14: Now on to Market New Haven. Worcester explains:

Market New Haven is funded by the city and by Yale. The mission is to improve the image of New Haven. The strategy is to communicate that New Haven is a unique destination with something for everybody. Hence the slogan, ​“It all happens here.”

The organization markets New Haven’s assets: Dining, culture, shopping, and walkability

The organization does the following: Advertising nine months of the year: 80 million impressions. Event marketing: music on the green, restaurant week [happening right now, this week]. Last year, restaurant week brought in 70,000 diners. The website infonewhaven.com, where hits were up 20 percent last year.

Marketing is important not just to enhance the image of New Haven. It attracts visitors and businesses, which increases tax revenues and creates jobs, Worcester says.

“We would appreciate continued support from the Board of Aldermen,” she concludes.

The committee has no questions.

7:21: On to Grand Avenue Special Services District (GASSD).

Bill Placke and Michael Pinto, representatives of GASSD, take their seats.

Crowd update: I see maybe one or two members of the public here. There are 10 or so officials waiting to speak. Where is everybody? Not even the budget watchdogs are here.

Placke says GASSD is focused on street cleanliness and safety. The district has been in existence for about a year. The organization is looking to expand into other areas, like promoting Grand Avenue. GASSD’s special tax rate of one mill raises $21,800. The city contributes a similar amount to the SSD, as a grant from the Economic Development Corporation.

Placke says Westville is a great model for development. GASSD would like to collaborate with the Grand Avenue Village Association in the future.

Pinto, responding to a question from Perez: The city also contributes to the Whalley Avenue Special Services District.

7:32: GASSD is done. The Town Green Special Services District is up. Rena Leddy takes a seat. She begins the ritual circulation of information packets, presenting the group’s accomplishments and proposed budget.

“It’s going to be a couple of difficult years,” Leddy said. The challenge will be to not cut the core services that keep the Green area clean and safe.

Leddy: We picked up an additional 60,000 pounds of litter and assisted 47,000 more people last year than the year before.

The mill rate for downtown businesses has been lowered to 1.8 mill (because the SSD’s ​“grand list” has increased).

Perez: Why has Yale’s contribution gone down?

Leddy: Because of the tax phase-in, commercial properties are paying less and residential properties are paying more.

7:44: Town Green is done. Next! And… it’s Whalley Avenue Special Services District, Executive Director Sheila Masterson presiding.

Masterson: Several milestones this year:

• We changed the way we configured our levy, from a convoluted formula involving linear feet to a flat mill rate. WASSD is requesting a rate of 1.66 mill.

• New sidewalks on Whalley, replacing at least one that was as old as 1931, according to a date on the concrete.

• Cool little art project: Troup School 3rd and 5th graders made drawings about recycling, which were made into posters and hung in Whalley businesses. Aldermen look at an example poster and murmur approvingly.

• Shaw’s closing: ​“I’m very encouraged and confident that we will find a suitable quality tenant.” There are companies at the negotiating table, Masterson says, though she declines to name them. Shaw’s still controls the lease for the next eight years. The city’s Economic Development Corporation is working on finding tenants for the Staples and Rite Aid spaces. 

Shaw’s originally came because they had been to the tennis tournament, Masterson says.

7:53: WASSD is done. Our tour of New Haven continues with the Chapel West Special Services District. Business Manager Brian McGrath (at right in photo) steps up.

McGrath: The budget is substantially the same as last year. It’s up a little because the phase-in is bringing in more money.

Clark asks: You did install those surveillance cameras, right? Have they been useful?

McGrath: Yes. Yale police have been able to put them to use, but faces in the dark are hard to see. There was a burglary in which an accomplice had holding an umbrella to block the camera, but Lt. Ray Hassett recognized the person’s gait and was able to investigate the crime.

Clark: You’ve been able to increase income by increasing territory.

McGrath: ​“We have profitable expansions and we have not-so-profitable expansions.”

Elicker: Any contributions from the city?

McGrath: No. We get contributions from Yale and St. Raphael’s.

8:00: Done. Now it’s time for User Fees.

Rebecca Bombero from the city budget office takes the mic, along with Tom Verderame of the Parks Department.

Bombero: License permits and fees are reviewed as part of budget process. The majority of fees are remaining the same. But there are new fees for fire marshals and the Parks Department, and a building permit fee increase.

Verderame provides details on increases in fees for parking at Lighthouse Point Park, none of which will affect city residents. The non-resident daily parking fee will go up from $10 to $20, the non-resident seasonal parking pass from $50 to $100, and the non-resident bus pass from $50 to $100.

Perez: Do you have an estimate of what the fees will add up to?

Bombero: There hasn’t been time to run numbers on the parks department fees increases.

O’Sullivan-Best: Is there any increase in fees for people who walk into the park, or park their cars outside and walk in?

Bombero: That would be illegal parking, since it’s a residential neighborhood, and subject to tickets and towing.

O’Sullivan-Best expresses a fear that people will not want to pay increased fees and that resources don’t exist to ticket and tow people who break the rules on the weekends.

Bombero: There will be more parking enforcement staff.

Crowd update: There is nobody left here to observe the meeting except state legislature liaison Adam Joseph, aldermanic staff, and your humble correspondent.

8:09: And we’re done! Meeting adjourned. This one was only two hours long, one hour of which was for the Board of Education.

This is the final budget workshop, unless the committee chooses to bring people back for more questioning, which is not expected.

All city departments have now said their piece. Next, the general public will get a chance to speak at the Finance Committee’s second public hearing on the budget, on April 28. Stay tuned.