Town Budget Vote is this Tuesday

Monroe voters rejected the first two budget proposals for fiscal year 2013-14, so the town will try again this Tuesday, when voters decide on an $80,042,285 proposal, which carries a 3.93% mill rate increase. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.

First Selectman Steve Vavrek cut the last proposal by approximately $275,298, eliminating a $50,298 request for a school resource officer, $100,000 for road maintenance and $125,000 from the Board of Education budget.

Supt. of Schools James Agostine and the Board of Education will have to decide how to absorb the reduction to their proposed increase.

"This budget keeps us on the right track of fixing what needs to be fixed and addresses many issues that we have all ignored over the years," Vavrek wrote in his Budget Overview. "Our department heads are to be commended for their fiscal constraints, while still addressing the many needs of the community.

"After numerous internal staff meetings, we have compromised additional services and equipment to bring this budget to the level that hopefully finds support with our elected officials and the voters of Monroe."

If voters approve the budget, the mill rate, which is used to calculate individual tax bills, would rise by 1.15 mills to 30.41 or by 3.93%. The amount of the budget to be paid for by taxes would increase by $1,817,751 or 2.73%.

The $80,042,285 budget proposal represents a $1,429,661 increase over current spending (1.82%). It has $52,109,919 for education, $19,967,051 in municipal expenditures and $5,731,542 for debt service.

Education spending would increase by $675,180 or 1.31%, municipal spending by $824,877 or 4.31% and debt service by $145,514 or 2.6%.

Vavrek said the main drivers of the increase on the town side of the budget are insurance, pension, road repairs, equipment replacements and police and town hall renovations.

Vavrek said town officials anticipate a $488,090 reduction in state funding, adding funding from the state for the education cost sharing formula is expected to remain flat.

To review the entire budget in depth, follow this link to the town of Monroe's website.