Windsor Locks Superintendent Sacrifices for "One Town, One Budget"

When cuts to the board of finance's adopted budget were made on June 8, they were more severe than anticipated.

The severity of the cuts was due to one thing: Superintendent Wayne Sweeney's willingness to sacrifice a portion of education dollars to make room for funding in other departments.

When budget cuts commenced June 8, cuts to the police department and Windsor Locks public schools were on the table. Cuts to the police, however, would have only allowed the department to hire two of the three officers it wanted to hire. As a result, Superintendent Sweeney offered a little help.

"We support one town, one budget," Sweeney told the finance board, adding that the school system could stand to cut up to $275,000 if it would make room for the police department to hire their third officer.

"When I came to town, you trusted me with a number of new initiatives. I told you 'if they don't work, I'll step down.' They did work," Said Sweeney. 

The superintendent added that the board should give the town's new chief of police, Eric Osanitsch, the same amount of support — allowing him to flesh out his plans for an improved department and a lower crime rate in town.

The plan was applauded Saturday, with a number of those in attendance commenting on Sweeney's willingness to provide services for residents and make a sacrifice to do so.

The board went a little deeper, asking Sweeney to take on a $280,000 cut, but did reduce the police department's cut to $130,000 to make sure Osantisch would get his third new officer hire.

The proposal, however, only lasted temporarily, as republican support for the leniency on the police department was non-existent.

Republican members of the board said they believe the large requested increase to the police department is one of the reasons the budget was rejected on June 4.

Subsequently, the board voted to cut $200,000 from the police department, giving it two of the three new officer hires.

The proposed increase to the police department's budget is now 14 percent.

The proposed budget returns to referendum on June 18.