Mayor Submits Municipal Budget With Increase

Ledyard Mayor John Rodolico submitted a $50.3 million municipal town proposal to the Town Council Monday. The plan reflects an increase of approximately $1.14 million over the current budget but only calls for half-mill increase in property taxes.

Overall the spending plan reflects a 2.5 percent increase over this year’s budget and that takes into account a 5.3 percent increase in the cost of general government and a .5 percent increase in the school budget.

Rodolico said contractual raises caused the greatest increase in the budget; he said the town had settled a handful of contracts and since some were overdue, they issued retroactive payments and a few promotions.

In a letter to the Town Council Rodolico said the Capitol Improvement plan was increased by more than $200,000 for roads, general maintenance to the town buildings, technology, emergency vehicles and public works vehicles. For instance, he said the town is planning to buy two new police cars, one large truck for public works and is increasing deposits toward fire equipment.

Rodolico said that he won’t be hiring additional staff and he hopes that a cross-trained staff and technology will help the town save more money in the future. For instance, he created a new “floater” position last year who does the job of several part-time employees in three offices. Also, the tax collector now accepts online payments, which reduces required staff hours and he has talked all departments to find ways for residents to do more business and interface with government more efficiently from home.

Coming up, the mayor hopes to implement online applications for dog licenses.