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WILLINGTON BOARD OF FINANCE
Town Hall
Common Road
Willington, CT ~06279
7:00 P.M.
BUDGET HEARING MINUTES
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Members Present: Members Absent:
Ken Schoppmann, Chairman Annemarie Poole - Alternate
Ann Marie Brown, Vice-Chair
Alan Ference, Secretary
Peter Latincsics
Robert Wiecenski
Elizabeth Marco
Elizabeth Treiber - Alternate
Also Present: Donna Latincsics, Business Manager; Tish Ignatowicz, Treasurer; Christina Mailhos, 1st Selectman; Dave Harding, Superintendent; members of many Boards and Commissions; members of the public.
Chairman Ken Schoppmann called the Budget Hearing to order at 7:00 P.M.
Chairman Schoppmann summarized the budget process and hi-lighted some of the facts of the budget. The following were mentioned:
- Spending $16,227,621, an increase of $265,219 or 1.66%
- General Government budget is $4,109,780, an increase of $290,000 or 8%
- Wage, insurance and Capital Reserve Project make up most of the increases
- K-8 budget is $8,009,617, increase of $370, 239 or 4.85% which Superintendent Harding will speak more to.
- Region 19 - $4,108,000 which is Willington's portion. It's a reduction of $395,144 or -8.77%
- Revenues - forecasting revenue increases, state grants and fees of about $65,000.
- Grand list grew $670,000 which equates to $15,000 in tax revenue. Usually in the range of $70 or $80,000 which would help fund our normal increases.
- The mill rate will be 24.38 which is an increase of .42%.
- This would mean for a home that is worth $100,000 an increase of $42 per year. A home worth $200,000, $84 per year.
Board of Education
Superintendent Harding summarized the Board of Education Budget. Their budget is for $8,009,617, It is a status quo budget with no new programs or changes in the schools. The increase is about $370,000 which includes salaries, benefits, purchase services (special education), transportation, maintenance and out of district placement.
Board of Finance -2- April 9, 2013
General Government
First Selectman Mailhos summarized the General Government budget. She stated that this is the fourth year she is presenting the budget and the fourth time she is bringing a status quo budget. The budget includes:
- replacing equipment and roads
- salary increases of 2% and insurances
- proactive tree removal
- initially added a resident State Trooper, but decided to remove it and add an advisory question on the ballet.
Chairman Schoppmann then asked for questions from the audience.
Nancy Gauthier asked about how much it will cost the tax payers for a police officer.
Melissa Welsh asked if the Town will be adding any positions eight part-time of full-time? Both Superintendent Harding and Selectman Mailhos said no.
Jim Bulick, Laurel Dr, asked if there is a crime problem in Town that we would need a resident state trooper? Selectman Mailhos said that we do not have a direct line to the State Police and do not know what complaints come in. Once a month they do get a list of the crimes. She does hear of complaints of speeding, break-ins and vandalism.
Suzanne Chapman asked what the average response time and do we have a trooper that covers Willington? Selectman Mailhos said 22 minutes, luckily were are close to Troop C. During any shift there is one Trooper that patrols Ashford, Union and Willington. The surrounding towns have their own troopers. Mansfield has 9, Tolland has 5 to 7 and Stafford has 5 or 6, that makes us stand out on a map with zero.
Kelly Trueb was shocked to find out that gun permits are awarded thru the Selectman's office. With a Resident State Trooper, he/she would take care of that. Also have a Resident Trooper brings programs and grants to the Town.
Selectman Mailhos mentioned that Mansfield has passed ordinances that make it hard for the College kids to have parties they are coming here to have their parties. We cannot have ordinances because we have no one to enforce them.
Bob Chabot asked how responsive this budget is to open space? He said that towns with more open space have lowest property tax. Chairman Schoppmann asked him if he had a report that states that, he would like to see it. Chairman Schoppmann said that the open space purchase is something to talk to the CIP Board about. He voted to add funds. We have a General Fund that a Town meeting would be able to approve funds to be used for this. Bob Chabot talked about the funds not being available quick enough.
Board of Finance -3- April 9, 2013
ADJOURMENT
The Public Hearing was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Lewis
BOF Recording Secretary
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