Monroe Budget: The Preliminary Numbers Are In

Monroe's budget proposal for fiscal year 2013-14 is being prepared by a number of chefs. Department heads and educators whipped up the initial proposals, which went to the first selectman and the Town Council. Now Board of Finance members are chopping requests here and sprinkling in more funding there. What they have so far is an $80.5 million plan with a 2.23% spending increase.

Board of Finance Chairman Mark Reed said Wednesday that the numbers are preliminary, adding he was not yet comfortable giving an estimated tax increase, because there could still be a change in the grand list.

It also must be noted that, while the finance board expressed agreement on a number of line items, no official votes were taken.

The Board of Finance will have another budget workshop at Monroe Town Hall Thursday night at 7 o'clock.

So far the total adjustments include a $713,480 cut from the Board of Education's proposed increase, which Supt. of Schools James Agostine believes can be made up by reducing the medical insurance reserve and through an estimated $223,000 worth of energy savings from Honeywell's efficiency projects to most of the school buildings.

The town also took over $300,000 the Board of Education wanted to spend on school security to carry out the improvements, and Board of Finance Vice Chairman Michael Manjos said it would be bonded for.

On the municipal side of the ledger, Board of Finance revisions resulted in a $333,788 increase.

Once again, no official votes have been taken, so these figures are preliminary.