Sparse Turnout at East Windsor Budget Public Hearing

Just five people spoke Tuesday evening at the East Windsor Board of Finance’s public hearing on the proposed $35.4 million budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

The finance board has already cut the proposed budget by $381,000 so that it now calls for a $1.25 million increase - or 3.69 percent - over current spending levels.

But that wasn’t enough for several residents who spoke at East Windsor High School on Tuesday evening.

Jack Mannette said that if the finance board didn’t cut the budget increase down to 2 percent or less, then it will fail at the referendum scheduled for May 14.

Under the town charter, if a budget fails to pass after three referendums, a budget that contains a 2 percent spending increase is automatically adopted.

Mannette said, among other things, that the salaries paid to the town’s employees are rising at a rate that is much higher than in the private sector.

“[I]t appears the only way taxpayers can slow it is to limit the annual spending increases,” Mannette said.

Steve Dearborn agreed with Mannette, saying that the town “gives out raises like Santa Claus.”

“I’m making less money than I’ve ever made in my life,” Dearborn said.

In addition, Dearborn questioned what happened to the money that came when taxes increased during the height of the economic boom in the early to mid-2000s.

“Why is there not a surplus from the high taxes?” Dearborn asked. “There are no new buildings [in town].”

But Marie DeSousa defended the budget, saying that without investment, East Windsor would become a place to which no one would want to move.

As it stands, the finance board will mull a budget that includes $21 million for education, which represents an $800,000 increase - or 3.96 percent - over 2012-13, and $14.4 million for general government operations, which represents a $425,000 spending increase over this year.

Much of the increase in government operations, some $525,000, is in the capital improvements program, which would go from $471,000 to $986,337 million, representing a 109.14 percent hike.

The budget also contains funding for two part-time firefighters to help with staffing during daytime hours.

The finance board will meet Wednesday evening to further discuss the budget.