Date: Fri 31-Jan-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

budget-Cascella-selectmen

Full Text:

Cascella Presents A $23 Million Town Budget

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

First Selectman Bob Cascella figures next year's town budget could be kept

under $22 million, up just 2.7 percent over the current budget, but only

through the use of a little "alternative" financing.

As it now stands, however, Mr Cascella's proposal is nearly $23 million, a 6.9

percent increase.

"The total budget is $22.9 million, but by utilizing alternative financing for

capital road construction, we could certainly get to $21.9 million. But that's

the choice of the Legislative Council," the first selectman said Tuesday night

as he presented the town budget.

Mr Cascella has recommended the council cut the $2 million road work in half

through bonding or some other form of financing. If the past is any

indication, however, council members may not go along with that idea. In

recent years, the council has steered away from borrowing road work funds to

avoid interest costs.

A year ago, a proposed $1 million increase in capital road improvements was

cut after the budget was defeated.

As an alternative to borrowing, Mr Cascella suggested using some of the town's

$2.2 million surplus.

Of course, Mr Cascella's proposed numbers are subject to change before they

ever reach the voters in early spring. The Board of Selectmen is currently

taking a close look at each line item, and once it gives its stamp of

approval, the proposed budget moves on for review by the council.

Mr Cascella, who did not add any new positions, believes his new budget meets

the "desires" of the taxpayers by keeping up services while holding back huge

tax increases.

"Overall, I think it's a very comprehensive package to offer to the

community," said Mr Cascella. "As Selectman Gary Fetzer said three years ago,

`a budget is a compromise and we all need to compromise.'"

Coupled with the Board of Education's proposed $30 million budget, the overall

cost to the taxpayers could soar to as high as $52 million, up from $49.6

million of a year ago. That would increase the town's tax rate by roughly two

mills.

The proposed 1997-98 budget includes new items:

a $95,000 computer network update to the finance department;

a $42,000 lease agreement with the state for offices at Canaan House at

Fairfield Hills; and

$125,000 for sewer hookup and assessments for municipal buildings.

The budget's most noticeable increases were in health insurance, which jumped

from $850,000 to 950,000, an increase in the contingency fund from $185,000 to

$220,500, and the highway department budget, which jumped from $3 million to

$4 million.

A $125,000 pension plan for Newtown's volunteer firefighters is included in

the proposed budget, increasing the fire department's line item from $592,000

a year ago to $610,400. Representatives from the Fire Commission were expected

to speak on that issue at Thursday's budget deliberations.

The town hall managers, for the first time in several years, have requested

$50,000 from the town to assist them in the replacement of the Edmond Town

Hall roof.

The police had its budget increased just $8,000 over the current budget as

most line items stayed the same. Police Chief James Lysaght and members of the

Police Commission were denied a request for a new four-wheel-drive vehicle. Mr

Cascella said the town already has plenty of all-terrain vehicles that are

readily available to the police. As it is, the police are already getting four

new cruisers and, the first selectmen added, a few thousand dollars so that

other town-owned four-wheel drive vehicles can be temporarily transformed into

police vehicles for emergency situations.

The maintenance of the buildings was a subject of concern for members of the

Police Commission, who said the condition of the police headquarters is an

embarrassment to the town. Calling it a "stepchild," they said the police

department is not kept clean and hinted that it needs a full-time maintenance

person.

The Parks & Recreation budget dropped from $711,000 to $700,000, even though

the agency had requested $743,000.

Mr Cascella received permission from the Legislative Council last fall to

change the format of the budget, consolidating planning and zoning,

conservation, town engineer and zoning enforcement officer into one category,

putting the night clerks into a central account, and placing the fuel/oil and

maintenance accounts of all town vehicles into one lump sum.

Board of Selectmen budget deliberations continue at the Newtown Multi-Purpose

Building next Tuesday and Thursday at 7 pm.