MINUTES of ANNUAL BUDGET MEETING - May 4, 2015
MINUTES of Annual Budget Meeting held May 4, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. in the Old Saybrook Middle School auditorium,
60 Sheffield Street, Old Saybrook, Connecticut, with approximately 50 persons attending. Carl Fortuna, First
Selectman, called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
First Selectman Fortuna advised that the budget will go to Referendum per Town Charter. He proceeded to
present the State of the Town message as required by Town Charter. He reported that “Old Saybrook has its fiscal
house in order: our expenditures are controlled, our revenues are strong, longstanding major capital projects have
been addressed, our debt is manageable and declining, our fund balance is the highest in the last 10 years, our
yearly capital accounts are funded, our business community is on the rebound and our grand list is growing. As a
community we have a lot of which to be proud. A strong volunteer community commitment, well- kept
infrastructure and a government that has identified professional fiscal management as a priority.” He went on to
report that the 2015-16 budget shows growth just over 1% excluding debt service. We chose to protect 930 acres
(the Preserve) of pristine forest and this acquisition means we have nearly 30% open space and with the assistance
of a great volunteer corps the Board of Selectmen and Parks & Recreation anticipate recreational and
environmental benefits will pay dividends for years to come. The proposed budget will result in one of the
smallest mil rate increases in the last 20 years and is the result of three (3) years of professional oversight. The
Town of Old Saybrook currently has the 15th lowest mill rate in the State. Part of the budget is for education
responsibly presented by Jan Perruccio, Superintendent of Schools, and Mario Gaboury, Board of Education
Chairman, and together with the General Government budget is a proposed 2.6% increase. The budget is a
planning document and we intend to: invest in information technology, have created sinking funds to fund the
needs of the Town for years to come, have created capital reserve funds to allow the Town to pay or future capital
needs not yearly recurring, insured that the Library will be a great resource for years to come, have promoted
employee benefits to help the Town reduce costs of premium and assisted employees in making better health
choices, better personnel decisions when replacing employees, leveraged state and federal grants for the benefit
of infrastructure and taxpayers. First Selectman Fortuna reviewed the grants and projects we are undertaking
which will be overseen by our various Boards and Commissions (Board of Finance, Planning Commission,
Economic Development Commission, Parks & Recreation Commission and Architectural Review Board). “These
grants are part of a plan to increase private development through government partnerships in an effort to expand
the tax base, which keeping Old Saybrook’s small town charm.” He concluded by placing before the voters a low
growth responsible budget to be voted on May 12, 2015.
Jan Perruccio, Superintendent of Schools, presented an education budget overview mindful of the economic times
in which we live. The education budget is a 2.9% increase. The student enrollment is decreasing, however, we
have special education costs an unknown. Questions and comments were heard.
On a motion duly made and seconded it was unanimously voted that Grant Westerson would be Moderator of the
meeting. The Moderator proceeded with the call:
Item 1. To adopt the annual Budget for the Town of Old Saybrook for the fiscal year July 1, 2015 through June 30,
2015 as recommended by the Board of Finance in the amount of $43,671.686 and to make appropriations for the
schools, highways, bridges, sidewalks, library, cemeteries, fire protection, police department and all other
necessary objects and purposes:
General Government $ 18,741,738
Board of Education $ 24,929,948
Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 8, Section 4 of the Charter of the Town of Old Saybrook, and Section 7-7 of
the General Statutes of Connecticut, as amended, to adjourn said Annual Budget Meeting at its conclusion and to
submit the question of the adoption of said budget to vote, upon the voting machines of the Town of Old
Saybrook, on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, between the hours of 12:00 noon and 8:00 p.m. Said referendum shall take
place at the Old Saybrook Senior High School Gymnasium, 1111 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
The adoption of said budget, as recommended by the Board of Finance shall be placed on the voting machines of
the Town of Old Saybrook in two parts, the first part being for the budget of the General Government, including
the Bonded Indebtedness, in the amount of $18,741,738 and the second part being for the budget of the Board of
Education in the amount of $24,929,948. Said questions will be placed on the voting machines under the following
heading:
Question #1. “ SHALL THE TOWN ADOPT THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT PART OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE
TOWN OF OLD SAYBROOK IN THE AMOUNT OF $18,741,738 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF FINANCE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ITEM #1 OF THE CALL OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET MEETING OF May 4, 2015?”
YES NO
Question #2. “SHALL THE TOWN ADOPT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PART OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF
THE TOWN OF OLD SAYBROOK IN THE AMOUNT OF 24,929,948 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF FINANCE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH ITEM #1 OF THE CALL OF THE ANNUAL TOWN BUDGET MEETING OF May 4, 2015?”
YES NO
No questions were raised regarding budget items and the Moderator reminded us that the Budget
Referendum will take place on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, from 12 Noon to 8:00 p.m. at the Old Saybrook Senior High
School.
ITEM 2. To adopt the following resolution: In accordance with the provisions of Section 12-142 of the General
Statutes of Connecticut, as amended, that the property taxes assessed and levied by the Town of Old Saybrook on
the Grand List of October 1, 2014 be paid in two semi-annual installments, the first being due and payable on July
1, 2015 and the second to be due and payable on January 1, 2016, with the exception of real property and
personal property tax bills under $100.00 payable in one payment on July 1, 2015; motor vehicle taxes due and
payable in one installment on July 1, 2015; and Supplemental Motor Vehicle tax bills due and payable in one
installment on January 1, 2016.
On a motion duly made and seconded Item 2 was unanimously ADOPTED.
ITEM 3. To authorize and empower the Board of Selectmen to borrow such sums of money from the Town of Old
Saybrook fund balances and/or from other sources as the Board may deem necessary, in anticipation of tax
revenues, to pay the appropriations of the budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.
On a motion duly made and seconded Item 3 was unanimously ADOPTED.
ITEM 4. As allowed under the provisions of Section 12-129n of the General Statutes of Connecticut, to act upon
the recommendation of the Board of Finance to provide tax relief to certain homeowners of the Town of Old
Saybrook aged 65 or over, or permanently and totally disabled, under the following conditions:
a. That the homeowner meet the requirements for age and/or disability under the
Specific provisions of Section (1) and (2) of Section 12-129n (a) of the General Statutes
of Connecticut
b. That the homeowner be a taxpayer of the Town of Old Saybrook for a period of one year
next immediately preceding their receipt of tax benefits under this program.
c. That the homeowner meet the income requirements for eligibility for tax relief under the provisions
of Section 12-129b of the General Statutes of Connecticut.
d. That the total amount of relief allowed to taxpayers under this program for the Town of Old Saybrook
fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015 shall not exceed the sum of $75,000.00.
e. The relief provided under this program to a qualified taxpayer shall not exceed an amount which,
when added to relief for such taxpayers, is eligible under the provisions of Section 12-129b to Section
12-129d, inclusive, or Section 12-170aa of the Connecticut General Statutes, which in the aggregate,
exceed 75% of the property tax for which such taxpayers would be liable but for the benefits hereunder and
under said above referred to sections.
f. That if deemed necessary by the Old Saybrook Tax Assessor and Tax Collector, by reason of time
constraints, the property tax relief program for the tax year beginning July 1, 2015 may be implemented
by Certificates of Correction (for the full amount of the relief) issued with respect to the installment of taxes
due and payable January 1, 2016.
Public comment was heard. On a motion duly made and seconded, Item 4 was unanimously ADOPTED.
On a motion duly made and seconded it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 7:50 p.m. to the Budget Referendum
on May 12, 2015, at the Old Saybrook Senior High School from 12 Noon to 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah V. Becker, CCMC
TOWN CLERK
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