Stonington finance board approves budget with 0.24-mill tax increase

Stonington — Faced with the uncertain economic impact of the coronavirus on residents, the Board of Finance spent 8½ hours over two nights before approving a proposed 2020-21 budget on Thursday night that calls for a 0.24-mill tax rate increase.

The proposed $72.2 million budget would increase the tax rate to 23.60 mills. While the proposed budget is actually $1.4 million less than the current budget, the tax rate is increasing because the board had used $3 million of its undesignated fund balance to offset taxes in the 2019-20 budget. In 2020-21, it will use just $400,000 of that surplus fund, which is kept on hand for emergencies and to protect the town’s high bond rating.

Board members agonized over items as they worked toward a goal of a net tax rate impact of 1% because they fear the impact the virus may have on jobs and household income.

Board Chairman Tim O’Brien warned board members that the impact of the virus changes every few days. “Five days from now we may have to cut a heckuva lot more,” he said.

The board could revise its budget again after its public hearing on the budget which is tentatively set for April 9.

The board, which met for 5½

hours Wednesday and another 3 hours Thursday, again streamlined it meetings on Facebook Live with most members and town and school officials participating remotely by phone.

At an earlier meeting Thursday, the board also approved a school system request that would allow it to purchase Chromebooks without going out to bid so all students can continue class remotely. Every student who needs a Chromebook and internet access will be provided with those.

During Thursday's meeting, school officials and town department heads offered up items that could be put off for a year, considering the possible problems facing the town and its residents.

Among the new cuts were two new positions: a recreation program coordinator and deputy finance directors, the remaining $10,000 to start the Pawcatuck River Greenway project, and more school-related capital improvements offered up by school officials. About $3.4 million of those school items could be placed in a bond that could be sent to voters.

Board member Lynn Young also asked Superintendent of Schools Van Riley that if the schools do not open again this spring, if there would be savings in the current budget.

Riley said he knows there will be savings, such as not having to pay substitute teachers, but it was too early to say how much.

While Young said she had heard other school systems, such as Norwich, have furloughed paraprofessionals, Riley stressed at this point the school system is continuing to pay all salaried employees, including teachers, secretaries, custodians and paraprofessionals.

He said they are all on call for the next two to three weeks and will be used to deliver instruction to students while custodians will be deep cleaning all schools and town buildings.

Young asked school officials to develop scenarios with certain employees being furloughed but said she and the board were not suggesting furloughs occur.

Riley pledged to keep the board updated.