The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Town merger talk revived
Leaders admit prospect stirs up strong sentiments
The selectmen of two small Middlesex County towns agree in spirit with the long-floated idea of combining municipalities as a cost-cutting measure, but believe only major savings would overcome residents’ resistance to the proposal.
Both towns can trace their roots to the 1700s and have areas listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Durham was incorporated in 1708, and although Middlefield was founded in 1866, it was originally part of Middletown, which became a town in 1651, before it was formed into a city in 1784.
Durham Second Selectman John Szewczyk last month asked the board to seriously consider creating a task force to study a plan he says could cut $1 million, something he has suggested for some time, Selectman Laura Francis said. An additional 5 percent in state cuts, announced Friday by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, would mean a total of $500,000 less aid to Durham — 13 percent overall, she said. “It’s a tight budget and there’s not a lot of wiggle room, not a lot of fat,” Francis said. “We’re always looking for ways to save.” But a merger would only be a possibility if Middlefield was on board, Francis said.
“A strong case of substantial savings would be needed to convince the citizens of both towns to combine,” said Middlefield First Selectman Edward Bailey, who said he often hears from taxpayers who complain about the high education costs associated with Regional School District 13, which serves students in both towns. “I can only imagine them being skeptical of saving costs by combining two towns.”
But Bailey said he has had a number of talks with Francis about the idea.
“Certainly, we would never even consider it unless we had a willing partner on the other side,” Francis said. “To overcome the extreme emotion we would met with, you would have to probably demonstrate extraordinary savings after a very comprehensive study.”
That would be hard to do since the towns have already combined many positions and services over the years.
The list is long: the 911 call center, regional probate court, transfer station, Durham Middlefield Youth and Family Services and the Durham Middlefield Local Wellness Coalition already work with both communities. Bailey said he and Francis frequently look at government activities for possible consolidation.
“We have engaged in exercises where we saw potential advantages for both towns and we are continuously having discussions where our mutual interests could be best served,” he said.
Many issues would arise, Bailey acknowledged, including where a new town government would be situated. A new central location brings with it capital costs. Also, Bailey said, parochial attachments run deep.
“Consolidations really have very little precedence,” Francis said. “It’s not easy to do. It’s certainly going to invoke a lot of emotions because people do have strong ties to their communities. We’re still a little proud of our independence.”
Szewczyk hadn’t returned messages and an email seeking comment by press time.
Bailey has looked at the data in depth. Like many towns, the school district is the single largest hit to the budget, he said, using up about 72 percent in Middlefield and 77 percent in Durham.
“Combined operating budgets amount to $11.3 million out of a total budget of $47.3 million,” Bailey said, and “the combined populations of both town would be about 11,700, so our current combined spending per capita for town operation is $965.”
He points to Portland, which has a population of 9,543 and spends $1,152 per capita, by way of comparison.
“So already, we have low town operating costs,” Bailey said. “Our school budgets are another matter. RSD-13’s per student cost is over $21,000 per year. In Portland that cost is under $16,000.”
Just to save 10 percent total in operating costs, he said, would mean a combined $1 million cut.
“To say you can eliminate a first selectman or a finance director and have a dollar-for-dollar savings is not realistic, as the workload would need to be handled by clerks and assistants, thus diminishing savings,” Bailey said.
Saving 10 percent of the towns’ operating budgets would translate to about 2 percent overall in savings, Bailey said.
“This would require combining all town facilities into a central location, elimination of a library, and other consolidations that might not gather much citizen support,” he said.
Francis said recently she and Bailey examined the possibility of sharing a finance director because of joint vacancies in the positions.
“Ed and I did a solid two weeks of analysis. We discovered very little savings, and it would mean an increase in support staff,” Francis said.
At the Oct. 23 selectman’s meeting, Szewczyk suggested an analysis be done by the finance director. Francis agreed, but asked that be delayed until the town’s audit was complete, according to the meeting minutes.
“We have an imperative to look at all ways that we can to reduce costs of providing government services,” said Francis in light of continuing state aid reductions that don’t show signs of abating. “We also have an imperative to talk about realistic concepts that can be done shortly. Yes, we have to look at the long picture, but we have a crisis here and we have to start looking at ways we can affect the budget now.”