One thing became clear about a half-hour into the annual budgetary town meeting on Tuesday.
People had the school system on their minds.
The crowd was small - just about 60 folks at the Rockville High School auditorium - but the comments played big.
And they stressed education.
"Let's be honest," said Democratic Town Committee Chairman Bill Dauphin, "We're here to talk about education."
No vote took place at the annual meeting - it was a prelude to the May 7 referendum.
But there was a lot of comment.
The budget has been proposed at $82,601,559 for the 2013-14 fiscal year. That is $2,002,499 more than the current budget of $80,599,160.
General government is proposed at $26,522,202, an increase of $349,000 over this year's bottom line of $26,172,367.
Capital improvement and debt service are $213,726 less than the current year's total. The total is $6,245,796.
Education is proposed at $50,169,787, an increase of $1,988,790 over this year's total of $48,180,997. It is also $1.5 million less than what the board of education sent to Mayor George Apel.
Two prevailing philosophies came out in the comments. One was approve the budget on May 7 because no way the Republican-controlled Town Council is going to add anything to the bottom line. The other was crush the budget at the polls, demand an increase and trust that the council could add funding for education.
When asked for an opinion on the latter, Town Attorney Harold Cummings said,
"If the budget is defeated, then it goes back to council and council can discuss any motion it wants." There was pressure to add money to the bottom line for education if the budget is defeated by voters. Democratic council member Marie Herbst started that ball rolling by saying she would move to add $400,000 for education if the budget is rejected.
"It's time to stand up and do what's right and not what's for for political expediency," she said.
Budget critics stressed two things - Vernon schools being in "the bottom 30," a group of school systems the state has deemed under-performing, mostly in terms of test scores and the perception that the local government does not want to spend money on education.
"I grew up here … but I am very disappointed about where we are," said Dan Nevelos, a parent with children in the school system. "I didn't think twice in 2005 when I moved here. But now, friends think I am a sucker. "We want this town to succeed, but it's getting harder to fight."
Democratic Council member Michael Winkler said it is a deterrent to people living in town and wanting to live in town.
Board of Education Chairman Dean Houle said there is no excess in even the original school board budget request.
"There is one thing I want to make clear. Kids in this town are not getting bottom 30 education," Houle said. "But this town does have to support public education. I'm a pretty conservative guy so just don't throw money around. We need to pass this budget. "Cutting All-day kindergarten was a mistake last time and that is why I am fighting so hard to get it back this time."
Former council member James Krupienski was visibly frustrated with the budget numbers. He has three school-aged children.
Republican council member Bill Campbell said he was frustrated with the Democrats who spoke.
"Get you facts straight," he said to Democrats in attendance. "There is a $2 million increase to the Board of Education budget and we're trying to do what's best."
Campbell then took a breath and paused.
"Will we listen to your comments? Yes."
An exit poll is planned for the referendum.
A lot of the comments did not cast a good light on the local school system, which was one reason Houle said he spoke. The meeting was marred by several instances of testy back-and-forth commenting between audience members and those on the council dais.
At one point Deputy Mayor Brian Motola said he had had enough.
"Excuse me while I contact the clergy of vernon for this funeral. This is not a wake," he said.
He pointed a finger in the direction of Hartford.
"I do not like the bottom 30 listing. The governor did us a big disservice," Motola said. "You can take anything and rank it top to bottom. If you take all the sprinters of the last Olympics and rank them - look at the bottom and notice they don't suck.
"Well, we don't suck."
Motola dismissed claims that the Republicans would not adjust the education numbers.
"Here is a promise I am making to all of you tonight. If the budget goes down, I will try to make cuts on the town side and move money over to the Board of Education to support some initiatives."
Other Republicans seemed receptive to that.
Republican council member John Kopek also bashed "negativity" said the budget has to be a balancing act.
"How many people am I conformable with increasing taxes for? Those who say, It's a small price to pay, can say it only for themselves."
Democratic school board member Michele Arn said it was not negativity but "fear."
Republican Council member Adam Weissberger tried to rally everyone.,
"We all support education and I really think we are a lot closer than the negativity I hear in this room today indicates," he said. "There are a lot of positive things in this town and want it to continue to succeed."
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