Third Time's A Charm?

Please remember to vote on the budget Monday, July 30^th – 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.