Budget making process begins

Threat of state cutting $84,000 in aid still looms

CROMWELL >> Department heads are finishing up their budget proposals this week for fiscal year 2017-18.

The proposals have to be submitted to the head of finance by next week. After reviewing them, Finance Director Marianne Sylvester will present them to Town Manager Anthony J. Salvatore by month’s end.

Salvatore and Sylvester will then hold meetings with department heads to review each budget individually. Salvatore will present his proposed general government budget to the town council March 1.

Even in its embryonic phase, the budget-making process is taking place against a backdrop of continuing uncertainty about the state’s finances — and the amount of state aid the town can expect.

Late last month, the state announced it would not be making $50 million in previously approved Education Cost Sharing payments to the cities and towns. Cromwell will lose $84,102 as a result of the state’s action.

In the days immediately following that announcement, Salvatore said he was “greatly concerned” about the reduction — and its timing.

The manager also expressed concern about the anticipated loss of the town’s share of $40 million Local Capital Improvement Program funding. However, for now, Salvatore said he and Sylvester “will continue to monitor our financial condition to see if more restrictive action is needed.”

The looming issue of how much — or how little — state aid the town can depend upon in the coming year also weighed heavily on Board of Finance Chairman John H. “Jack” Henehan. When Salvatore and Sylvester came before the board for its final meeting of 2016, Henehan pressed the two officials on the issue of state funding.

“Most of what you hear is that things are bad and could get worse,” Henehan said. “It’s really going to be challenging for you folks and the department heads.”

“Yeah, we are going to be challenged,” Salvatore acknowledged. “But, hopefully (the General Assembly) is going to resolve this at the beginning of the legislative session instead of waiting until the end.”

Because it is the second year of a two-year budget, it will not require the same level of attention necessary when a new budget is presented, the manager suggested. Beyond that, “Our budget proposals are very cautiously and conservatively put together and they are very tight,” Salvatore said.

However, “If state aid is reduced, then we will try and prepare a budget that is fair and honest and that will continue to provide the services the residents and taxpayers of Cromwell look to us to provide,” Salvatore said.

To help get a better handle on the developing budget, the manager has asked department heads to once again include a list of objectives in their 2017-18 budget proposals. At the same time, Salvatore has asked them to be ready during two-on-one interviews to report back on which of their goals for 2016 were met.

The idea is one Deputy Mayor Richard R. Newtown had pressed for some time. The council agreed to adopt it in 2015. In calling for its implementation, Newton said, “Only then can we do some long-range planning so that we can continue to be effective throughout the long process and just year to year.”

In comments Monday, Salvatore said he has told department heads to be prepared to tell him and Sylvester “what their achievements were but also to explain to us why they could not accomplish some of their other goals.”

Salvatore acknowledged it is easier for some departments — such as public works — to present easily quantifiable goals and objectives as opposed to, say, the finance department. For example, he said, “public works can tell us how many miles of roads they paved.”

The finance department was tasked in 2016 “with maintaining our Triple-A bond rating and getting a good rate for us to borrow,” both of which were successfully accomplished, Salvatore said.