Michael Jehle has seen the Fairfield Museum and History Center grow exponentially since it opened in 2007. What was then the Fairfield Historical Society has spread out to include more educational and social activities than it ever had, serving 18,000 Fairfielders a year.
Our role has grown over the years, tenfold, said Jehle, the museums executive director. And not just for students thousands of adults and families participate in what we do here.
But what it had not seen was an increase in financial support from the town government. The independent non-profit raises 97 percent of its funding through private donations each year. Even after the museum increased its reach, the towns financial contribution remained the same -- $30,000. This year, Jehle convinced the town to up the amount to $50,000, as a token of support.
But on Monday, the Republican leaders in the Representative Town Meeting proposed about $740,000 in reductions to the towns spending. Among the cuts was a $17,500 chunk of the Fairfield Museums grant. Jehle is concerned not so much about the grant itself, but a possible ripple effect it could have on the Museums coffers.
What taking those funds away will do to us is it gives us less leverage to go to private donors the businesses, the foundations who say, Is this something thats valued in our community? Jehle said. Town support is an important indication of that value.
Republicans list also includes cutting $63,000 from the Fairfield Public Librarys materials fund, with which it buys books and digital media subscriptions. Town Librarian Karen Ronald said Thursday she was worried that the Library would not be able to maintain the same level of service.
Patrons would have to expect longer waiting lists for all sorts of materials, and probably far fewer materials, Ronald said. Its very disappointing.
RTM Republican leader James Millington said the list was the culmination of his partys work to trim the towns budget line-by-line to save taxpayers money. It includes suggested cuts ranging from $50 for office supplies in some departments to $1.2 million from the school districts funding. The RTM will make its final decision May 2.
Millington also stressed that the cuts were not necessarily supported by all Republicans. Some earned the approval of the majority of the caucus, but Millington said the list also included suggestions supported only by individual members. For example, Republican Michael Mears suggested the cut to the library on his own. And Fellow Republican David Becker said that trim to the Museum came from a focus group, and was designed to keep the budget at 2010 levels.
We do realize that there was an increase in usage, and an increase in cost, Becker said about the History Center. But there were a lot of groups like that, and theyre not asking for increases.
Are you concerned about Fairfields Museum and Library losing support? Or do you agree that lower taxes are the priority? Share your opinion in the comments below.
CORRECTION: This story originally stated that both cuts were part of an effort to return to 2010 levels. The library's cut is part of a different proposal by an individual RTM member.
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