New London — The City Council on Monday approved revised and downsized budgets that, if passed later this month, would maintain a cut in the tax rate in the face of potential drops in revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The vote followed a wide-ranging conversation about equity in the cuts on the government and education sides of the budget and veered at one point into a debate on the transparency, or perceived lack thereof, in the education budget.

The total proposed budget is $94.5 million, with $50.46 million allotted for general government spending and $44.04 million for education. Both figures are a 1% increase in spending over the current budget but result in a 4.48% reduction to the tax rate, Finance Director David McBride said.

Board of Education President Regina Mosley expressed dismay over reductions that have left the school district with what she said was a $760,000 deficit at a time when the district is in crisis mode. “I don’t know if I can stress that enough,” she said. “That directly affects the students.”

Some argued the cuts made by the Board of Finance last week, which included a $378,141 reduction to the school budget and $62,147 from the general government proposal, were disproportionate and served to tie the hands of councilors who previously had increased the school budget above the mayor's proposal.

McBride’s presentation to the finance board predicted more drastic drops in the revenue stream because of the COVID-19 pandemic. By city charter, it now will take a vote by the Appropriation Board, which consists of both the finance board and council members, to increase the budget.

Councilor James Burke said he would call for support from fellow councilors to call an Appropriation Board meeting. While the move may prove to be unpopular, he might argue for a slightly smaller cut to the tax rate that could in part to provide a boost to the education budget. “I think that should be on the table,” he said. “Our citizens need tax relief but they also need bolstered services.”

The City Council does not have a say in where education spending is directed but has agreed to cover the finance board’s $62,147 reduction in the general government budget by using about half of what was budgeted for overtime costs associated with Sailfest, which has been canceled.

McBride said despite a perception of inequity, revisions throughout the budget process since the mayor’s proposal on April 1 have led to a $244,203 drop in the general government budget and a $203,141 drop in the education side.

School Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie said the district would have a tough time dealing with more than $700,000 less than requested. “That number is a big number ... for a fiscal year where we know our needs are dramatically increased,” she said.

“We’re going to comb through everything to see how we can ensure we give a dynamic education, to fill gaps while maintaining progress and the course we were on,” she said.

Ritchie said her hope was to find creative ways to bridge the budget gap without impacting academics or cutting positions.

Councilor John Satti was unimpressed by the plea from the district and said the Board of Education “should be ashamed of the fact” that its budget does not contain a list of employees with salaries.

“If in fact the Board of Education wants money from the City Council, then they need to be transparent so we can understand,” Satti said.

The council is expected to meet a final time for passage of the budget at 6 p.m. May 27.

g.smith@theday.com