Town of Willington
BOARD OF SELECTMEN • 40 OLD FARMS ROAD • WILLINGTON, CONNECTICUT 06279 • (860) 487-3100 • FAX (860) 487-3103
Special Meeting
Board of Finance
Jointly with
Board of Education & Board of Selectmen
Willington Public Library
Meeting Room
December 1, 2009
7:00 P.M.
BOF Members Present: BOE Members Present:
Ken Schoppmann, Chairman Dave Harding, Superintendent
Ann Marie Brown, Vice-Chair Mark Makuch, Chairman
Elizabeth Marco Teri Gareau
Chopeta Lyons Laurie Semprebon
Peter Latincsics Erika Wiecenski
Alan Ference Leo Mercado
Mark Wiggins – Alternate
BOS Members Present:
Christina Mailhos
Tyler Millix
John Blessington
First Selectman Mailhos called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm.
First Selectman Mailhos reviewed for the group the budget process and reviewed last year’s budget. She then asked the group to talk about lessons learned from last year’s process.
Superintendent Harding commented that the groups worked together to make it happen.
BOE Chairman Mark Makuch advocated from the Board of Finance how to deal with contingencies. He stated that there should be a model to work off of without using concessions, but using better accuracy. There are unknown events i.e. Special Ed and Out Placements.
BOF Chairman Ken Schoppmann commented that the Board of Education never ran out of money, they were able to move funds around to cover the unknowns. The General Fund surplus would cover some of what is needed. Snow plowing is always an unknown. The question is how much risk to put in the budget. He asked that the departments not build their budgets off of last years. Build them from what is needed to run their departments this year. In January/February there should be a strong estimate as to what it costs to run the show. He asked that the departments do the best they can with their
budgets. If there is extra at the end and they have something to give back, great.
Board of Finance Joint Meeting -2- December 1, 2009
First Selectmen Mailhos reviewed the current situation:
- recession is in full swing;
- projections show that Willington would be paying slightly less to R19 than last year, but still higher than years prior;
- State funding is in question, (3% reduction proposed by Gov. Rell);
- Town revenue projected to be down as unemployed home owners fail to pay property taxes;
- we have contractual obligations to honor (example: possible 20% increase in insurance);
- Department/Boards have unique funding issues they are facing this year.
First Selectman Mailhos then asked for strategies for the upcoming budget.
BOF Chairman Ken Schoppmann informed the group that there should be a clear picture from the Grand List this year. The re-val last year made it more difficult.
The following comments were made by various members of the group:
- 85% of the BoE Budget is labor
- Region 19 asked Superintendent for a 0% increase
- There is a minor fund balance in the CIP for emergencies
- The longer repairs are put off the more is will cost to repair for Public Works
- Library Budget – extra spending out of the endowment fund means larger chunk for Town.
- BoE asked that the BoF give them guidance for contracts with the teachers union.
- Region 19 affects Town Services.
- Present the budget to the Town, if voted down then pursue deeper cuts.
- The three Boards will continue to work together.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that we must communicate with the Town’s people. They only understand that taxes go up and services go down.
Next Step
The Board of Finance will start its budget process with their January meeting. The Treasurer and the Town Manager will be present to inform the Board of the current numbers. The Board’s goal is to keep the tax increase to a minimum or 0% increase, even a possible decrease in the budget.
First Selectman Mailhos suggested that the Board of Finance request a 3-yr plan from the Boards.
First Selectman Mailhos said that she will write a letter to the editor for the newspapers on behalf of the three boards to inform the townspeople about the budget process with key dates, etc.
It was agreed that another joint meeting will be held prior to presenting the budget to the Town. The meeting will be added to the schedule on March 25, 2010.
First Selectman Mailhos called the meeting to a close at 9:07 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Hlobik
Board of Finance Recording Secretary
12/01/
| 
