Date: Fri 28-Mar-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

budget-hearing-Osborne

Full Text:

Budget Hearing Draws A Small But Contentious Gathering

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Betty Lou Osborne is still trying to figure out what is going on with this

year's $52.6 million proposed town budget.

When the longtime Newtown resident first learned of the town's $3.3 million

revenue shortfall, she wondered how that could have happened.

Then she wondered why the Legislative Council decided not to use the town's $2

million surplus to avoid the $200,000 cut to the proposed school budget ($29.7

million).

"It's been bothering me and I thought I'd ask it," Mrs Osborne said.

But, as she discovered at Wednesday night's squabble-filled public hearing on

the budget, the council is already using that surplus to offset this year's

$3.3 million revenue shortfall.

Legislative Council Chairman Pierre Rochman said the surplus is used as

revenue to keep the tax rate down.

"And you're still making cuts in the education budget?" Mrs Osborne asked in

surprise.

Mrs Osborne of Zoar Road was one of about 10 residents who showed up hoping to

convince the council to reinstate the money it cut out of the Board of

Education's budget two weeks ago. She could only wonder what would have

happened if the council didn't have that large surplus to turn to in an effort

to keep taxes down.

"Do you have a handle on what's going to happen a year from now?" she asked.

Council member Melissa Pilchard said the council is hoping the town will have

more revenue to work with next year.

As the council's finance committee chairman, John Kortze, explained, the $3.3

million shortfall came about when the grand list fell $14 million after

several residents won the revaluation appeals, and both DuPont and Dual Lite

left town. In addition, state aid was cut, leaving a $9 million void.

First Selectman Bob Cascella explained that because many of the town's new

homes completed in 1996 were assessed at a significant percentage of their

total value when they were under construction in 1995, the relative increase

in the grand list was minimal.

The council is also funding $1 million worth of budget items through the

town's capital non-recurring expense account, holding the tax rate increase to

1.2 mills.

"We do not anticipate this kind of year in the near future," said Mr Rochman,

who made several attempts to adjourn the meeting only to be overruled by those

in attendance.

Mrs Osborne and others said they were still unsure of how the tax assessments

in 1995 could have had so much affect on the grand list, despite Mr Cascella's

explanation. A contentious debate ensued just as a power outage caused the

auditorium lights to go out.

"We still have not received a satisfactory answer as to why the revenue is so

low this year. I think the town is owed a better explanation," said Jim

Osborne, standing in the dark.

Cheryl Clark of Pheasant Ridge Road called for the $200,000 to be put back

into the school budget. Let the taxpayers decide how much they want to pay for

their schools, she said.

With just emergency lights in the auditorium, Mr Rochman again attempted to

close the meeting, apparently unable to see the handful of hands raised with

questions in the darkened seats in front of him. Again, he was overruled.

Susan White of Castle Meadow Road called for the school funds to be reinstated

and blamed the council for the lack of attendance.

"They're not here because they're sick and tired of not being heard," she

said.

Toward the end of the meeting, Mr Osborne was still unhappy with the

explanations he had received from the council, even accusing members of making

important decisions without fully understanding the town's financial

situation, and maybe even wrongdoing.

"I think there is more to this than meets the eye, and this is not just about

education," he said.

William Rodgers, a new member to the council, offered an outsider's

perspective on the events that went on at the meeting.

"I heard explanations that satisfied me, certainly by the third time. The real

issue here is not why are we having this revenue shortfall, but why was the

school budget cut," he said.

Stan Karpacz of Hyvue Drive reminded those in attendance that the school

budget actually went up this year 5.19 percent.

Chris Spiro of Grand Place, who recently announced his intention to run for

first selectman as a Democrat, also gave his interpretation of the hearing.

"It sounds like what I'm hearing is people want the $200,000 put back in for

schools and then go to a referendum and let the people decide," he said.

Mr Rochman said later that the fact that so few people showed up indicated

that people are not interested in bringing up any issues in this year's

budget.

"When seven or eight people come, out of a town of over 20,000, whatever input

you get is not indicative of what the town thinks. You probably can't put much

weight into what was said," he said.

The Legislative Council will hold a second public hearing Saturday at 9 am in

the middle school auditorium. Then, members will meet April 2 to further

discuss the budget before sending it to a referendum.