WESTFIELD – Following an explanation from Mayor Donald F. Humason Jr., the City Council unanimously approved the mayor’s request for a $1.5 million appropriation from Free Cash for Westfield Public Schools at its June 4 meeting.
Ward 2 Councilor and Finance Chair Ralph J. Figy said although the funds will go into the revenue side of the budget, Humason has assured the council that it will go to the schools for fiscal year 2021.
At-large Councilor Dan Allie asked how much it would impact the school’s budget. Figy asked that Humason, who was present at the remote meeting, respond.
Humason said that the budget deficit as calculated a couple of weeks ago, came back at $8.1 million less this year than last year. “That set us on a path of cutting both the school department and city side,” he said, adding that he is in the process of a second round of meetings with department heads, some of whom he has met with three times.
Humason said the number that he presented to the School Department was $4 million to be cut, with $4.1 million to be cut on the city side. He said after getting the number, the School Department came back with $2 million in cuts, many involving layoffs, plus $1 million added in from the CARES Fund. “People were very unhappy with that,” Humason said.
He said after a finance committee meeting and a Special School Committee meeting last Monday, they decided to come up with other ways of finding revenue. By that time, June 1, the city also found out that the deficit in property taxes, which was anticipated to be a $1 million to $2 million loss, is now $500,000, and more may come in.
Humason said he received advice from three former mayors and neighboring mayors, and decided to look at the cash on hand of $3.5 million, although he said he didn’t want to spend it all.
Also before the Council on Thursday were requests from Free Cash of a combined $1 million for snow and ice and increased prescription costs, both of which were referred to the Finance subcommittee.
Humason said the $1.5 million for the schools leaves $1 million in Free cash. “I thought it was better than borrowing from stabilization, counting on marijuana money, or relying on the state or federal (governments),” he said.
Humason said the news was well received by the School Department, which still has cuts to make. “Our hope is that they won’t take it in layoffs, and they won’t lay off the teachers that already got notices.” He said the decisions will be made at a Special School Committee meeting planned for June 10.
Humason said before the coronavirus pandemic, his administration was not going to make any cuts to the school budget. “My hope is that as the economy restores, we will be able to give money to both city departments and the schools,” he said.
“My math says you asked for $4 million, they got $1 million in CARES Act funds and $1.5 million from Free Cash. That leaves them with a $1.5 million cut to make. Are you going to ask them to protect music, sports, special education?,” asked At-large Councilor Dave Flaherty.
Humason said he did not make any requests to the School Department and is leaving it up to the superintendent. “Obviously, we would like to reserve programs like the music program in the elementary schools, because they’re so popular and it sets them up for the following grades,” he said.
“Could you please, for the people at home, voters and constituents, could we have your word of honor that this goes to some of the programs that kids were going to lose out on,” asked At-large Councilor Kristen Mello.
Humason said the elected School Committee members would feel the same way.. “I understand what you’re asking in concept, but I cannot promise it,” he said.
“The reality is, we don’t have the ability to earmark this money. It’s a handshake and a promise,” said Council President Brent B. Bean II. He said the council can watch what they do, but the School Department has done its due diligence. “The $1.5 million is clearly filling a hole that will decimate the school budget,” he said.
“We also listen to the people. We got the letters; we read the letters. They were all pretty heartfelt,” Humason said.
“I just want to say that our superintendent and our School Committee are extremely dedicated to our students. I can assure you that with all the deadlines that we have, their intentions are pure and we can trust what they say,” said At-large Councilor Cindy C. Harris.
“I’m going to support this tonight because we have to do what we can in extreme circumstances to protect the school. But the auditor is not going along with this,” Flaherty said. He said Auditor Chrisopher Caputo said after all the transfers being requested, that will leave the city $1 million in Free Cash, and he expected a 10 to 20 percent cut across the board from the state.
“We’re taking a risk, but we have a little wiggle room, not as much as I would like. Once we release this $1.5 million, there’s no guarantee we’ll get it back. City departments have absorbed the cut the schools would have had,” Flaherty added.
Allie questioned whether there will be money remaining after the departments do their end of year sweep. Humason said there are a number of unanticipated costs that haven’t been paid, and money remaining will likely pay for those.
“The auditor was clear about the $3.5 million we currently have, and he was very clear there will be another $1 million in Free Cash. That would get you up to $2 million. There will br marijuana money, and up to $2.5 to $3 million in Free Cash. It’s not as risky as it’s being portrayed,” said At-large Councilor and FInance committee member Rick Sullivan. He also said that legislators he has talked to are trying to hold Chapter 70 funding harmless, a comment he made at Monday’s finance meeting that has been questioned.
Flaherty said as far as sweeping the departments, the School Department Chief Financial Officer Ronald R. Rix thought there may be $600,000 in unspent funds there, which will also go back to the city.
Bean moved the question for a unanimous vote in favor of the appropriation to the School Department.
“We’re very appreciative of the Council’s vote and the Mayor’s advocacy to restore some funding to the schools,” said Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski after the meeting.
Czaporowski said he had initially only made $3 million of the $4 million in cuts that had been requested, so $1 million of the Free Cash would make up the difference, leaving about $574,000 additional money for the budget, plus another $150,000 in additional Chapter 74 income for out-of-district students attending Westfield Technical Academy.
“The difference is $724,000 that we’ll be able to add back in, and we will use it to restore positions,” he said.
