If budgeting is an expression of policy priorities, then the 2010-2011 Trumbull budget represents a direction that’s wrong for the town, Trumbull Democrats said this week.

The budget adopted by the Town Council last Thursday forces a significant reduction in the school system, if experts on both sides of the aisle are to be believed. It leaves the fate of more than a dozen teachers uncertain. It reduces spending for both police and fire. It slashes public-works services, meaning our streets and parks will be less clean this year. Incredibly, it adds a police dog, even while opting not to fill two police-officer positions. It exposes the town to a dangerous funding “cliff” next year because a significant amount of the funding for the school system this year is federal stimulus money, not available in 2011-2012.

And it raises taxes at a rate three times last year’s increase.

“Last week, we saw arbitrary cuts without department input,” said Town Council Democratic Minority Leader Mary Beth Thornton. “When asked for justification, the response was, and I quote, “Because I want to,” and “It’s a quest for efficiency.” If you cut hard enough, you go beyond efficiency into inadequate management, and then you affect the safety and well-being of our residents. The actions of my colleagues last week did not reflect due diligence and common sense.”

Unless something drastic changes the trajectory before the Board of Finance sets the mil rate in May, this process will produce a tax increase of about 2.6 percent, compared to the 0.9 percent increase last year.

Democrats, Thornton said, are opposed to any budget where cuts are made without reason or sufficient documentation. They oppose any budget that ignores the input of recognized experts from both parties. They oppose any budget that relies on one-time stimulus funds to cover ongoing operating expenses, thereby creating a budget cliff the following year. Finally Democrats are opposed to any budget where education is hurt, services are reduced and taxes increase at a rate nearly three times the previous budget.