The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Town budget plan totals $25.45 million
Finance board submits proposal, despite concerns
NEW HARTFORD >> In spite of concerns about anticipated state and federal funding cuts to the municipal and school budgets in the coming year, the Board of Finance April 4 will submit a draft
budget for $25.45 million for public consideration.
The board met Tuesday to discuss the draft proposal for 2017-18. During the discussion, members voiced uncertainty about state revenue projections and a potential increase in the town’s tax rate.
Under the draft financial plan, the property tax rate in New Hartford would increase by 3.14 mills to 32.65 mills, Board of Finance Chairman Jim Fitzgerald said Tuesday — a 10.64 percent increase.
The town’s spending would increase by 3.15 percent under the budget proposal, according to documentation provided Tuesday, with just over $5 million for the municipal budget, and $24.65 million for New Hartford’s education budget.
This figure includes an allowance of $801,726 for retiring teachers’ pensions, based on a proposal by Gov.Dannel P. Malloy that would require towns to assume a third of that fund.
Town revenues are expected to decrease 10.54 percent from the current budget year — approximately $551,082. These numbers are not yet finalized as the budgeting process continues at the state level.
This figure includes a decrease of more than $1.46 million from Education Cost Sharing grant funding received by the town, which would fall from more than $3.1 million to more than $1.69 million under the governor’s proposed budget.
This would be partially offset by an increase in the amount of special education grant funding ascribed to the town — such funding is proposed to go from $70,784 in the approved current-year budget to more than $1.03 million in the 2017-18 proposal — but First Selectman Dan Jerram warned the Board of Finance against confidence in that level of funding Tuesday, as it would represent a significant jump from what is currently received by the community for special education.
The Board of Finance, after voting down a motion to require the New Hartford Board of Education and town government each to strip $350,000 from their proposed budgets — $300,000 from operating, $50,000 from capital — ultimately decided to send the budget draft to the town for consideration.
“It’s the raw numbers. It’s what we have to work with, based on the expenditures put together from the three boards and the revenue numbers from our town local government municipality and the state,” said Fitzgerald.
Regional School District 7 has not yet finalized a budget for the current year — the number included in the draft considered Tuesday represents the current assessment for New Hartford, according to the board’s documentation.
Fitzgerald asked Board of Finance members whether they wanted to suggest that the regional school board provide a flat assessment for the town over last year Tuesday.
“I think we need to put as much on them as possible, because they need to share in this pain as well,” said Fitzgerald.
Regional School District 7’s budget is expected to be considered at a hearing April 17, according to documentation on the district website.
The Board of Finance is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed budget at 7 p.m. April 4 in Town Hall.
The Board of Finance would then consider making changes to the proposal at an April 11 meeting, with the annual budget meeting to follow on April 18.