The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Winsted considers possible tax increase to fund proposed budgets
WINSTED — Selectmen and school board members discussed the idea of a tax increase as they discussed the public schools’ proposed budget and capital spending earlier this week.
Winchester Superintendent Melony BradyShanley’s proposed budget totals $20.6 million, a 2.99 percent increase over current spending that includes Gilbert School tuition, faculty salaries and benefits.
Town Manager Robert Geiger’s proposed town budget for 2021-22 is $14.1 million, a $406,000 increase over the current year’s budget. In that increase is a town share for education totaling $250,000. The tax rate increase would be 0.2 percent, which would mean a tax rate of 33.74 mills.
The municipal budget could be reduced if capital spending for road improvements and other
projects were to be put off for a year, Mayor Candy Perez said. Funding for the schools could be taken from the towns’ fund balance.
“We could look at the capital items in the general budget and maybe cut some things,” Perez said. “Or, just fund everything out of the capital budget, and next year we can hope we get more money.”
Selectman Steve Sedlak, school board chairman, said he thought residents would support a tax increase this year if they understood what the money was for.
“We’ve all been proud that we haven’t raised taxes for years, but when you look back, we should have spent a little (on capital projects like roads) as we went along,” he said. “The schools need help. The roads need help.
“We should make a decision based on what we know right now,” Sedlak said. “We’re at a point where an increase will be supported by this town.”
Finance Director Bruce Stratford warned the group that dipping into the town’s fund balance may not be the best path forward, saying the money is “not always going to be available.”
Perez agreed, saying that if selectmen were to decide to hold off on capital spending for the coming year, it would stall projects that need to be done, such as road improvements. While Winsted can apply for bonds for road work, having a healthy fund balance allows the town to make up-front purchases for equipment, for example.
Selectwoman Linda Groppo said she supported both spending plans. “It’s time to move forward,” she said. “I’m very concerned about the roads . ... People don’t complain about the mill rate when it comes to the roads and the schools.”
Selectwoman Linda Bird also spoke in favor of the spending.
“This would be a great year not to have a tax increase, but I support the education budget,” she said. “The education budget has consistently improved, and it will be paid back to use. The town will improve as the schools improve.”
Selectman Jack Bourque said, “We’re already supporting the schools. We’re supporting (the Hinsdale School renovation project), and the preliminary expenses for that.”
Brady-Shanley asked the board to support her budget.
“I’m advocating for your support,” she said. “I know it’s bucking a trend, but I’m asking you to support our kids right now. Down to the dollar, I know what I’m asking for.”
She also asked the selectmen to “give her a number” if they wanted the school budget reduced.
“If there’s a number to take back to my Board of Education for consideration, I can do that, but I can’t sit here right now and give you an answer,” she said.
The budget discussion will continue at 5 p.m. Thursday.