New London - It's not just about a strong mayor.

In a meeting Thursday with The Day's editorial board, Charter Revision Commission Chairman Robert Grills said the panel is considering changes to the city's charter that would make the municipal director of finance responsible for both the city and the school system.

Grills acknowledged the change would effectively merge the city and school finance departments.

"The director of finance would set up how the bookkeeping is done," Grills said.

The proposed charter change, which has not been voted upon by the commission or reviewed by the director of law, would give the director of finance "complete supervision of departments, commissions, agencies and others receiving appropriations from the city."

But commission member Lindsey Blank said the proposal would be "a tough sell," to the Board of Education.

"The school board says that they are not a department of the city, but the state," Blank said. "We are considering cleaning up that language."

Kelly Moyer, an attorney with the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, said she is unaware of any state law that would prevent merging finance departments.

CABE Executive Director Robert J. Rader said each town must decide if separate or merged finance departments work best.

"It is up to the board and the government entity to do what is in the best interest of the municipality," Rader said.

Blank said the commission is also considering a change mandating that the city and school system use the same computer software to keep track of accounts.

"It would be simpler to set it up under one system," Blank said.

The proposal is one of a number of possible charter changes that could allow for greater oversight of the school budget, including making it possible for citizens to send the education budget to a referendum, independent of the municipal budget.

Another possible change would strengthen the Board of Finance and give it the authority to perform "internal audits" of city and school finances.

The commission is also considering whether to require the City Council and the school board to undergo training in municipal finances.

The Charter Revision Commission has also announced its plan to change to an elected-mayor-council form of government, which has already been passed by the commission.

The elected mayor would be responsible for the budget and economic development, as well as the appointment of some municipal leaders. The mayor would also hire a "chief operating officer."

The commission is also recommending the city switch to an instant run-off voting system for the mayoral election.

The instant run-off system would require that to be elected mayor, a candidate would need more than 50 percent of votes.

Also, the commission is considering dividing the city into four voting wards and district representation for the City Council.

Four councilors elected from the wards would serve two-year terms alongside three at-large councilors serving four-year terms.

The commission must deliver a report to the City Council, which can either accept the charter changes, or return it with recommendations, before the commission votes to put it on the Nov. 2 ballot.