Weston Mill Rate Would Increase By 17 Cents

First Selectman Gayle Weinstein last week proposed a 2.16 percent increase to the town operating budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, bringing the request to $11.43 million, up slightly more than $240,000 from the current budget. For capital projects, Weinstein proposed an increase of $1.63 million, a bump of $605,000 (59 percent) from the current allotment.

Some funds will offset the capital increase, meaning about $390,000 of the capital request will impact the mill rate, Weinstein said.

“I believe that the proposed budgets are fiscally responsible and satisfy the need to maintain essential services and our infrastructure,” Weinstein wrote in a letter to the Board of Selectmen. “And increase of .71 percent in the present mill rate of $23.94 is needed to generate the $466,549 in additional income needed to fund all budgets as presented. This would increase the current mill rate by 17 cents to $24.11.”

What does that mean? For every $1,000 of property assessed, residents would be required to pay $24.11 in taxes to the town.

Town budget

“The overall increase is attributable to rising costs in just a few areas, necessitating reductions in other areas to mitigate the amount of the overall increase,” Weinstein wrote.

Ninety-five percent of the proposed increase relate to health insurance ($180,000), workers compensation ($17,000), pension contributions ($14,000), FICA ($10,000) and other post employment benefits ($8,500), she said.

“The proposed budget includes a 1.75 percent general wage increase for non-union employees, as well as for the town hall union employees,” Weinstein wrote. “The town hall unit is the only bargaining unit not under contract for the coming fiscal year. This budget includes the previously negotiated increase for the police department (2 percent), highway (2.25 percent) and communications center (1.75 percent) bargaining units.”

Capital budget

Weinstein proposed a 59 percent increase to the town’s capital budget to $1.63 million.

“That increase is necessitated by a strong desire to maintain our infrastructure,” Weinstein road. “Three roads — Treadwell, Greenfield and Winthrop — have failed, and must be rebuilt, not just repaved. Pent Road Bridge needs major repairs and the unique nature of the bridge requires significant funding. Finally, the school campus wetlands mitigation project had bids come in much higher than anticipated last year.”

Weinstein said the increased capital request will be offset by other funds, reducing the impact to the mill rate to about $390,000.

Weston’s grand list grew by 0.7 percent, Weinstein said, below the town’s historic average of 2 percent but above last year’s 0.5 percent growth.

Other increases

Weinstein identified other areas of increase:

• Elections ($4,786)
• Fire department ($5,609)
• Regional paramedic services ($3,353)
• Board of Finance ($2,600)
• Fire marshal ($2,107)
• Paving ($10,000)
• Litigation ($10,000)