Please remember to vote
on the budget Monday, July 30th – the polls will be open at the
New Town Hall from noon to 8:00 pm. Just to recap changes in the latest
proposed budget:
Revenue: Latest
figures from the State suggest that Intergovernmental Revenues would be about $25,000 more than we had previously
budgeted – almost entirely in the areas of the Education Cost Sharing and
School Transportation grants. This has a negligible impact on the budget but at
least it’s an increase and not a decrease.
General Government
and Capital - total decrease of $200,000 comprised of:
General Government Operating
Increase of $10,000
for anticipated Legal Expenses related to Tribal Annexation activity.
Decrease of $7,000
for Employee Medical Insurance premiums (due to receiving the actual bill since
approval of the budget has been delayed).
Decrease of $13,000
in the overtime allowance for the State Troopers.
Decrease of $125,000
for Storm Damage Mitigation projects, specifically for delaying repair of the stone
walls at the Town Hall parking lot until next year.
Capital
Decrease of $65,000
in the proposed appropriation for the new narrow band width radio system
upgrade for the emergency response services (fire and ambulance).
Debt – no change
from previous proposal.
Education – total decrease
of $300,000. I do not have a breakdown of the Education budget changes but
based on the Town Meeting discussion last night, they included not replacing
two teachers and a paraprofessional, a 20% reduction of 3 teachers and
elimination and combination of some athletic programs.
Again, the Board of
Finance has already set the mill rate at 25.25 mills and tax bills have
been mailed out accordingly, even though the presented budget showed a proposed
mill rate of 24.25 mills. While the BOF intimated that the mill rate might be
adjusted for the second billing cycle in January, it remains to be seen how it
will be implemented. Additional cost will be incurred to re-print tax bills
with a different rate or to otherwise make adjustments.
On other issues, the Selectmen have agreed to submit a Small
Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP)
grant request to fund the compilation of an implementation plan and inter-municipal
agreement with Stonington for the possible
installation of sewers. The plan would be to tie into the Stonington system
near I-95 Exit 92 and run up to the Rt. 2/184 rotary and also run along the
service road parallel to I-95 between Rt. 2 and 49. Obtaining this information
will be important to understanding the impact on taxpayers and potential users
as we update our Plan of Conservation and Development and as we discuss what is
needed to support economic development in the I-95/Rt. 2 area. Absent this data,
we can only have discussions based on anecdotal information. With this data, I
hope we can have a better understanding of what is involved in such an
undertaking, decide its merits and drawbacks objectively, and make well
informed decisions for the future of the town.
Lastly, barring severe weather the next couple of days, you should
see concrete getting poured for
abutments of the Main Street bridge.
Here’s a photo of the forms and rebar:
My understanding is the arch is fabricated and awaiting
shipment. We prefer not to ship it until it can be set in place on the abutments.
This way, we will move it less, and not have to store it on site.
Questions? Please don’t hesitate to drop me a note or call.
