Annual Town Budget Meeting Minutes
5/7/2012
Town Councilman, Doug Evans, called the Annual Town Budget Meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. in the Avon Senior Center, Community Room.
The first order of business was to call for nominations for a Moderator.
On a motion made by Peggy Roell and duly seconded by Ann Clark, it was unanimously voted to elect Diane S. Hornaday as Moderator of the Annual Budget Meeting.
The Moderator, Diane S. Hornaday, welcomed everyone. She stated that at the end of this meeting we will adjourn to referendum to be held at this location on May 16th, 2012 between the hours of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.. She stated that tonight we will hear the call to the meeting from our Town Clerk ; reports from the chairman of the Board of Finance; comments from the chairs of our three elected boards; and after that there will be an opportunity to ask questions or make comments about this budget.
She requested that the Town Clerk, Ann Dearstyne, to come forward and read the call of the Town Meeting. Ann Dearstyne read the following notice:
LEGAL NOTICE
TOWN OF AVON
ANNUAL BUDGET MEETING
The Annual Budget meeting of the electors and citizens qualified to vote in Town Meetings of the Town of Avon, Connecticut will be held at the Avon Senior Center, 635 West Avon Road, in the Town of Avon, Connecticut on Monday, May 7, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. for the following purposes:
To receive and consider a resolution for the adoption of the 2012/2013 Annual Budget in the amount of $78,729,793. as recommended by the Board of Finance, for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2012.
Pursuant to Section 9.4.1 of the Avon Town Charter, the Annual Budget Meeting will be adjourned to a referendum vote on the aforesaid recommended budget to be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2012, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Electors and persons who are not electors but who are qualified to vote at town meetings will vote at the Avon Senior Center, 635 West Avon Road, Avon, Connecticut.
Absentee ballots are available at the Town Clerk’s Office in the Town Hall.
The aforesaid question will be placed on paper ballots under the following heading:
“Shall the Annual Town Budget in the amount of $78,729,793. as recommended by the Board of Finance, for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2012 be approved?”
Voters approving the proposed question will vote “Yes” and those
opposing the proposed question will vote “No”.
Dated at Avon, Connecticut, this 16th day of April, 2012.
The following is a summary of the budget showing estimated revenues by major sources and recommended appropriations by major sources.
________________________
Thomas F. Harrison, Chairman
Board of Finance
The Moderator asked Thomas Harrison, Chairman of the Board of Finance to come forward.
Mr. Harrison moved the following Resolution for adoption:
“Shall the Annual Town Budget in the amount of $78,729,793. as recommended by the Board of Finance, for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2012 be approved?”
The Moderator asked if there was a second. It was seconded, approved, and the chairman was directed to proceed.
Mr. Harrison indicated that all six slides did not get placed on the laptop, however the handouts reflected the power point and are made part of these minutes.
Mr. Harrison stated that everyone in the room has been down this road before so we don’t have to get too technical. Everybody understands that at the workshop a couple of weeks ago the board of finance recommended a budget. Our role in coming to that decision was to come up with a workable balance between spending and taxing. We believe the budget we recommended achieves that balance. We are recommending 5 separate actions as part of the unified budget. To pay for the unified budget we rely on the usual mix of revenues. You can see on the town website how these proposed changes will affect you.
The Moderator introduced Douglas Evans of the Town Council. His power point presentation is attached and made part of these minutes. Mr. Evans provided details on the town budget, sewer budget, debt services and capital improvement program. He stated that we are requesting an overall increase of $647,960. The capital improvement program has been reduced almost 50% over the last 5 fiscal years and has been partially restored in this budget. Personnel Services costs represent about 50% of the increase in requested funds. The number of full time employees is level funded at 105. In comparison, since 1990, the town has grown over 27%, while the number of full time employees for the town has grown only 5%. Capital improvement is defined as a capital project where equipment costs more
than $20,000 and has a life expectancy of more than 5 years. This budget has been cut by $120,000 from initial requests. Tax relief is available to certain taxpayers who qualify based on age or income. As a final note, the sewer budget is a self funded program. Any increase or decrease in the sewer budget does not affect your taxes. It is funded through a separate assessment to those payers who have sewers. Finally, debt service is down as we have been able to retire debt before new debt comes on.
The Moderator called on Peggy Roell to present the detailed portions of the Board of Education Budget.
Peggy Roell prior to introducing Gary Mala, Superintendent of School, to make the presentation, she encouraged everyone to vote yes next Wednesday.
Gary Mala thanked everyone for the opportunity to address the group once again. His power point presentation is attached and made part of these minutes.
He stated that the Board of Education’s presentation has changed in several ways, one in reaction to reductions required by the Board of Finance. Since December volunteers who representing numerous groups in town came together and presented a strategic plan to the Board of Education which the Board adopted officially on April 24th. In June he hopes to share this strategic plan when he appears before the Town Council and he hopes to be able to also share it directly with the Board of Finance. It is unique to Avon.
One of the most significant changes is that this budget is presented in gross format. He would like to thank the town for supporting the need for new technology through the proposed recommendations in the capital projects budget.
The two areas of significant revisions are the reductions required by the Board of Finance, $266,748., and changes in the unanticipated expenditures due to special education needs of $113,800. So the total reductions needed are $380,548. from prior presentations.
The proposed budget supports the District strategic plan as well as other stated goals and continues efficient use of all resources to meet the needs of all students.
The Board of Education has not finalized specific reductions, but is entertaining proposals that will fall within total budget that is being requested.
The Moderator thanked everyone for their presentations. The moderator asked for comments from any other town officials who wished to speak. There was none. She then gave directions to the public for coming forward to the microphone for questions and comments. Everyone is asked to refrain from applause. Reminded everyone that anyone can speak who is a registered voter and/or owns property assessed at $1,000.or more. No one came forward.
The moderator called for a second and final opportunity to come forward.
The moderator adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m. to a budget referendum on May 16, 2012 held at the Avon Senior Center, 635 West Avon Road, Avon, Ct between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m..
Attest
Ann L. Dearstyne
Town Clerk
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