First Selectman Explains What's Driving Budget Costs

To the Editor:

What is causing the 2.17% spending, 3.14% tax and 4.10% mill rate increase?

The Major drivers include;

Debt Service     $245,000

Increase due to paying DOWN debt. I think we all believe we should pay back our debt and quickly as feasible. 

S.R.O Contingency     $150,893.

School Resource Officers will be added to the three schools that do not currently have an S.R.O. We have listed this item as a contingency since the possibility of Federal funding exists but conservative accounting forces us to plan for the possibility that the funding will not occur.

Health Insurance     $259,605

While we will not know what the increase will be until the fall we have made an estimate based on historical increases. Again a conservative approach makes us prepare for an 8% increase.

Legal     $120,000

This account has been grossly underfunded for the past two years, due to unprecedented and unforeseen lawsuits

Rolling Stock     $111,267

While this is a new account we have just moved from leases to equipment replacement. Historically the town has been remiss in replacing vehicles and have stretched beyond typical service life’s which end up adding expense to maintenance. This plan will allow us to self lease and replace our aging DPW and vehicle (NO FS car included) fleet but using funds previously spent on outside leases.

Full Day Kindergarten     $190,000

While some people have called it glorified daycare anyone who has had a recent Kindergartener will realize these kids are more than ready and we need to give them every opportunity to excel and go beyond their peers not start out behind. This is the time to start and this will improve the school system from the beginning.

Road Maintenance     $100,000

The 4 year plan was to build this account in our operating costs. While this account is now at $800,000, 5 years ago this account had $240,000 and that was from $0 budgeted in years previous. I think everyone agrees we are making tremendous strides with our roads. While we still bond the bonding amount has come down and we will eventually phase it out as our yearly operating costs will continue our comprehensive plan for better roads.

School Security     $300,000

Our Superintendent along with our Board of Education has been keenly on top of building security even before the tragedy on 12/14. These monies will continue the mission of making our schools safer.

This budget also includes:

• Much needed Social Service Mental Health and Youth Counseling programming
• Mandated certified Life Saving equipment for ALL of our Volunteer Fire Departments
• Ongoing maintenance to our buildings and infrastructure needs
• Technology infrastructure including fiber optics for all buildings.

Please VOTE on Tuesday April 23

Steve Vavrek,

First Selectman