Manville’s 2023 fiscal budget reduced to 1.8 percent increase
SOUTHBURY — The town is eyeing a nearly $22 million budget proposal for next fiscal year, with separate plans to allocate $5.79 million in COVID-19 relief funds for various projects.
The latest $21.96 million proposal for 2022-23 would increase spending for town operations by 1.8 percent.
The proposal is about $450,000 less than the plan Southbury First Selectman Jeffrey Manville had recommended, but he's satisfied with the latest version.
“I am very happy with the current budget,” he said. “It represents an increase in services with minimal impact to taxpayers. Over the past seven budgets during my administration we have beat the rate of inflation.”
His original $22.37 million proposal would have increased spending by 3.68 percent.
This does not include the $77.6 million budget the Region 15 Board of Education has proposed. Region 15 includes Southbury and Middlebury, with Southbury responsible for about twothirds of that. Under the school board's plan, Southbury would cover almost $51.5 million
On the town side, there were three main reduction items to the original proposal. Two were by Southbury Finance Director Dan Colton — $100,000 reduction for removal of an human resources consultant, and $100,000 removed from the labor line for a reduction in health care costs.
After a brief discussion between selectmen and Colton it was determined the drainage budget could be reduced by $250,000 with that amount funded through American Rescue Plan Act funds.
“This has been a team effort with collaboration with finance,” Manville said. “I am not concerned with the reductions since the plan is to run HR internally and health care will be fully insured which reduces our risk exposure.”
Manville said he believes that given the current inflationary pressures and ongoing pandemic, the budget maintains fiscal stability for the town. He said the budget invests in public safety and technology to increase government modernization. It maintains tax relief for seniors and disabled residents, invests in infrastructure to maintain roads and bridges, and preserves longterm fiscal health of the town, he said.
The Board of Finance will vote to approve the final budget at 7 p.m. April 11 and could make some changes with a majority vote. The budget referendum for the Southbury's municipal budget and Region 15's budget will be held on May 4.
Separately, Manville said he was pleased with the way the town's task force has decided to allocate funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, known as ARPA.
The two biggest items funded are Pierce Hollow Village, an affordable housing project for the elderly, and radios for local police and firefighters.
“With the Pierce Hollow funding, we are hoping that it helps show the commitment from the town that will lead to the funding that they need for the project from the federal government,” Manville said.
The Southbury Board of Selectmen, with the recommendations of the Boards of Finance, have scheduled a town meeting to be held at 7 p.m. April 7 in Room 205 of the Town Hall to act on the these appropriations recommended by the task force.
ARPA Task Force proposal breakdown
Pierce Hollow Village $1,500,000 Nonprofit grants $200,000 Splash Pad/Pickle Ball $346,679
Body cameras $300,000 Radios $1,545,369 Security cameras $100,000 AV System $100,000 Town property feasibility studies $50,000
NextGen dispatch software $125,000
3 Bay Garage $350,000 New Town Phone System $100,000
Bridges $675,000
New accounting software $150,000
Stormwater drainage $250,000
Total $5,792,048