East Lyme’s top official ‘very uncomfortable’ with budget

First selectman says plans need trimming; proposed school cuts already face opposition

— If preliminary budget recommendations from the town’s CEO and schools’ chief were approved as is, the town would be looking at an increase of 8.24% over the current year as factors like inflation, debt and dried up pandemic-relief funds loom over the budget season.

But First Selectman Kevin Seery last week admitted his proposal didn’t go far enough in trimming the list of budget requests from town department heads. Meanwhile, Superintendent of Schools Jeff Newton’s move last month to cut 18.5 teaching positions right out of the gate is getting pushback from teachers and parents.

The proposed town and education budgets need to be approved by the Board of Selectman and Board of Education, respectively. Then it’s up to the Board of Finance to decide on a bottom line to send to voters.

There’s a lot that could happen between now and then – and beyond, if the budget fails to pass.

The 2023-24 budget proposal comes in at $86.8 million for town operations, the schools, debt service and capital projects. The $21.8 million general government proposal represents a $1.3 million, or 6.49%, increase. The $57.9 million education proposal carries a $3.77 million increase, or 6.97%.

The $6.5 million debt service line is helping to drive the overall spike with an increase of $1.5 million, or 32%, over the current year. That’s because the principal is coming due on multiple bond projects.

Finance director Kevin Gervais attributed the increase to renovations to the elementary schools in 2019 and a new firetruck for the Flanders Fire Department along with roadwork in 2020. The refinancing of some older bonds also contributed to the increase, he said.

Seery told selectmen last week that he’s “very uncomfortable” with the size of the budget he is giving them to work with.

“I think we have to get that down,” he said, signaling cuts going forward.

Seery’s proposal includes several new positions: two police officers, one firefighter and a finance department purchasing agent.

On the education side, Newton’s proposed budget would bring the athletic director position from part-time to fulltime. The rest of the staffing changes are proposed in the form of cuts to the positions affecting teachers, paraeducators and part-time custodians.

Seven of the positions on the chopping block were funded by federal pandemic-relief funds.

The school board is being called upon by staff members and parents to reinstate the positions, a move that would add $1.1 million to a proposed increase that is already among the highest in the region.

Putting the positions back in the budget proposal would bring the education increase to 8.88% over the current year without other cuts to make up the difference. School board members have been reluctant to suggest any reductions that would directly affect students and teachers, though they have requested more information about administrative salaries.

Town operations

Seery in a letter reminded taxpayers that the budget planning process is playing out as the town emerges from the pandemic amid inflation not seen in four decades.

“Diminishing state aid along with increasing state mandates, and the rising cost of delivering municipal services, requires balance between raising the needed dollars to pay for valued and essential services while constantly looking at the taxpayers’ ability to pay,” he said.

Seery recommended adding two police officer positions instead of the three requested by police Chief Mike Finkelstein and one firefighter instead of the two requested by the chiefs of the town’s two fire companies.

The Police Commission has recommended hiring two officers per year for six budget cycles, starting in 2021. That year’s budget included one new police position and two were added in the current budget.

Seery said there’s been an increase in police activity due to more apartments and condominium complexes going up over the past few years. The developments include hundreds of luxury apartments and townhouses near Costco and 56 townhouses for a mix of incomes near the Rocky Neck connector of Interstate 95.

Data from the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shows there were 145 crimes reported in 2017 compared to 230 in 2021.

Gervais said the purchasing agent position included in Seery’s proposal would also serve as a deputy finance director. He said it makes sense in a town with a budget over $80 million to have a professional accountant overseeing procurement of items and services.

“That’s something I think the town needs,” Gervais told selectmen. “As the town’s grown throughout the years, there’s a need here to procure for lower pricing and just to make sure we’re buying the lowest-priced good.”

Gervais said individual departments currently make their own purchasing decisions. He included the school district as a department of the town.

“It’s another set of eyes outside that particular department,” he said.

Other factors driving the increase on the town side include a predicted $251,050, or 12%, increase in health insurance costs. The actual increase could be higher or lower. Officials last year were advised to budget for an increase of 5% to 8% over the previous year, while the final numbers came in at 10%.

The damage hit the schools harder because they went with a 5% estimate, while the town used an 8% estimate. The decision contributed to a deficit in the current education budget that stands at $286,127. The shortfall initially came in at $677,000, but has been reduced through cost cutting measures.

Seery said increased permit fees in the building department and newly instituted fees for fire marshal inspections and plan reviews are expected to bring in between $750,000 to $1 million in the coming town operations budget.

The town budget proposal includes $610,840 for capital projects, down 10% from the current year.