Trumbull Boards to Hear Efficiencies Report Tonight

After years of discussing ways to save money, the town will get its first taste tonight of the latest efficiencies report.

Some ideas have been to pool health insurance and custodial services for town buildings.

The agenda item for the tri-board items reads, "Town and Board of Education Operational Efficiencies Report Presentation by Gibson Consulting Group."

The meeting starts at 8 p.m. in Town Hall. The Board of Finance and the Town Council will meet at 7 p.m. in Town Hall to discuss unrelated matters.

The Town Council did try to take over running the school district's health care account by placing the funds in a townside account but later reversed that. Under state law, the town cannot tell the Board of Education what to do with its funding.

Other means, such as pooling health care for school and town workers, ran into problems, including the difference in the amount of claims between the school workers and the town employees, and the differing amount of employees on each side.

The consulting group, Gibson, would also explore pooling with other towns. The council approved $78,000 for the study in July.

The firm audited Bridgeport schools and it identified $7 million in operating efficiencies. Of the $7 million, $3 million has been implemented.