BOARD OF FINANCE
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING
40 OLD FARMS ROAD
WILLINGTON, CT 06279
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Members Present: Members Absent:
Ken Schoppmann, Chairman None
Ann Marie Brown, Vice-Chair
Alan Ference, Secretary
Elizabeth Marco (arrived 7:07 pm)
Peter Latincsics
Robert Wiecenski
Elizabeth Treiber - Alternate
Annemarie Poole – Alternate
Also Present: Donna Latincsics, Business Manager; Tish Ignatowicz, Treasurer; Dave Harding Superintendent; Members of the BOE: members of the public.
Chairman Ken Schoppmann called the meeting to order at 7:02 P.M.
SEATING OF ALTERNATES
Alan Ference motioned to seat Annemarie Poole for Elizabeth Marco, Ann Marie Brown seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion to approve the Regular meeting minutes of the January 17, 2013 regular meeting was made by Ann Marie Brown, Alan Ference seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
Elizabeth Marco arrived at 7:07 pm
PRESENT TO SPEAK – Chairman Schoppmann asked for comments now from the public and that during the presentation there will only be comments from the Board. We will come back to comments from the public at the end if needed.
Tammy Dolce, 87 Tinkerville Road, asked that the Board of Finance follow the example set by the Board of Education who listened to the supporters in terms of children instead of numbers. She asked the Board of Finance have the people of Willington express their opinion thru a vote.
Patricia Locke, 317 River Road, supports what Tammy Dolce just said.
Diane Walters, 1 Cosgrove Road, has been a resident since 1981; she spoke of changes in the school systems with programs that have been cut since her children were in school. We are already at a bare bones system right now and asked that the budget be brought to referendum.
Board of Finance -2- February 7, 2013
Aaron Kruger, 141 Tolland Tpke, read a letter from the Parent Advocacy Group. It expressed the benefit of the small class sizes and that early math skills are very important. The school system is the reason he was drawn to the Town of Willington.
Tracy Anderson, 151 Willington Hill Road, thanked the Board of Finance for all their time and effort they put in managing the finances of the Town and doesn’t envy the decisions they have to make. She values the quality of education. She asked that the Board to keep in mind when making their decisions that the budget reflects what is needed to run the schools without anything extra. Any cuts, teachers and programs will be affected.
Mike Enright , 19 Birch Meadow Lane, said he supports the Board of Education budget.
Nancy Gauthier, 69 Fermier Road, is here to see what the increases are in the Board of Education Budget.
Superintendent Harding said that it is great to hear the people talk about the wonderful school system. The reason we have such a wonderful school community is because of the Board of Education and the Board of Finance. He has made recommendations to make cuts because of decreasing enrollment and changes in what was being done in the schools. Because of the people at the table we have what we have.
NEW BUSINESS
Board of Education Budget
Superintendent Harding presented the Board f Education’s 2013/2014 budget request. ~He feels that the Board of Education has work diligently to produce a budget that is both educationally sound and fiscally responsible. ~The $8,029,617 request represents a 5.11% increase from the current year's budget. This budget maintains all current services and includes items that have been removed from the CIP Budget. The Board of Education strongly encourages the Board of Finance to fund the Willington Public Schools at a level necessary to produce students capable of achieving personal and professional success. He then reviewed the budget details to the Board.
The areas of the budget that reflect the increases are:
- Staff salaries $4,851,591 + 2.24%
- Benefits $1,260,969 + 11.00%
- Purchased Services $ 585,811 + 7.83%
- Instructional Programs $ 391,117 + 5.81%
- Operations $ 396,615 + 6.88%
- Transportation $ 543,514 + 14.66%
The following are the assumptions for the proposed budget:
- Health Insurance + 12%
- Dental Insurance + 10%
- Liability Ins + 15%
- Workers Comp + 15%
Board of Finance -3- February 7, 2013
- Heating Oil $3.08 per gal (price set)
- Diesel Fuel $3.16 per gal (price set)
- $15,000 technology purchases (no longer in CIP)
- +1 special Ed Para & 1 out of district placement
Questions that were asked by the Board included:
- Declining enrollment
- Fuel prices compared to last year
- Driving factor to increases in health insurance
- Eliminating buses with decrease class sizes
- Value of a bus
- Increase in workers comp & claims driving cost
- Out to bid for a different workers comp carrier
- Identification program decrease
- Water increase due to taxation
- Enrollment going down and cost per student going up
- MBR – Minimum Budget Requirement
- Funding what needed instead of what could be
Superintendent Harding distributed a forecast for the 2013/2014 FY. He thanked the Board for their continued support.
Chairman Schoppmann summarized where we are right now with the budget.
- $315,000 in added spending
- No new revenue sources
- Little increase in money from the State
- Grand List grew by $600,000 which means $15,000 in tax revenue
- Right now today it would be a half of a mill increase.
He asked everyone to talk to their representatives about the reduction in car taxes. This will be rolled over into our mill rate which affects property owners. There are a number of UConn students who live in our town that do not pay property taxes but do pay automobile taxes.
Chairman Schoppmann opened the floor again to public comments.
Barry Wallett, 23 Birch Meadow Lane, thanked all of the Board for the good job their doing and wished serenity for them. He stated that people move here for the school system and that’s because we have a good one.
Tracy Anderson, 151 Willington Hill Road, said that if people want services it means raising taxes. She has never in 18 years seen the referendum have to go back for a vote.
Chairman Schoppmann commented that he doesn’t only worry about the people in this room; he understands being concerned about the education of their children. He worries about the 7 or 8% that are unemployed and cannot afford another 100 or more dollars in taxes and could lose their homes.
Board of Finance -4- February 7, 2013
Alan Ference mentioned that it’s important that more people getting involved. There are 500 people in support of the budget, but there are 5,000 people that this affects. Talk to your neighbors and friends and tell them that their input would be helpful with making our decisions.
Superintendent Harding mentioned that their Board of Education meeting had 50+ people attend and it was very civil.
Beth Wallett, 23 Birch Meadow Lane, spoke of a sustainability report. Loves the school system but would love a sustainability report to be able to maintain programs. She asked that we make choices of our own destiny.
Nancy Gauthier spoke of the government budget being out of control. She ask that as a town we look at what we can afford and what we can’t. Do the best we can for our children, but look at the overall budget for people who are older and might loose their homes.
Carl Person, 55 Fermier Road, spoke about the current situation out of Washington being unsustainable and is concerned with massive inflations. Very hard decisions will have to be made here in town.
OLD BUSINESS - none
CORRESPONDENCE – none
GOOD & WELFARE - none
ADJOURMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra L. Lewis
BOF Recording Secretary
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