Date: Fri 24-Apr-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

council-budget-vote

Full Text:

Town Budget Vote Set April 28

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Newtown taxpayers will head to the polls next Tuesday to decide the fate of a

proposed $59.3 million town budget for 1998-99.

The referendum will take place in the Newtown Middle School gymnasium from 6

am to 8 pm.

The proposed budget represents an increase of $6.7 million over the current

budget, but will inflate the tax rate by just one mill, a 3.7 percent

increase.

"We were able to give the town boards, especially the Board of Education,

approximately 90 percent of what they asked for and the taxes are going up

less than four percent, about the rate of inflation," explained John Kortze,

the council's finance committee chairman. "I think the taxpayers are getting

plenty of bang for their buck."

The key to keeping spending down this year, according to council members, has

been the large amount of revenue which has helped offset the growth in

expenditures.

Much of the revenue comes from a grand list that will bring in an additional

$1.8 million. Earlier this month, the town also received word that it would be

given $600,000 more than it had anticipated in state aid.

Council members say they expect the budget to pass and all signs say they may

be right on target. The Newtown Bee did not receive any letters to the editor

regarding the proposed budget, $32 million of which will go to schools, with

the remaining $27.3 million being used to pay for the selectmen's budget.

Though many school supporters spoke in opposition to the council's original

decision to cut $800,000 from the Board of Education's $3.1 million proposed

budget increase, no organized opposition to the budget has been planned for

the referendum.

Since the initial $800,000 cut, school board members and parents have been

somewhat soothed by the fact that the school system will still realize most of

what had originally been requested by Superintendent John R. Reed and the

school board. The cut ended up being more like $200,000.

From $800,000 to $200,000

After the initial cuts to schools, both the Legislative Council and Board of

Education sat down to figure out how best to fund the items that would be

affected. Finally, school officials agreed to lease $400,000 worth of

technology equipment with the first payment not coming until next year. The

council also agreed to fund an additional $125,000 for HVAC work at Newtown

High School through the town's capital, non-recurring reserve account. Lastly,

the council voted to give back $75,000 to the school board last week after

learning of an increase in state aid to Newtown.

"The economy has certainly helped our budget. I think we've been able to share

that windfall (increased state aid), but not go over board," Mr Kortze said.

"We've been able to save a good chunk, raise revenues, keep the mill rate down

and still fund most of what everyone has asked for."

Nevertheless, there are always residents who show up at the polls to cast

their `no' votes.

"People don't get the chance to vote on the federal or state budgets, but they

do at the local level and this is their opportunity to take out their

frustrations," said First Selectman Herb Rosenthal.

The first selectman called it a "reasonable" budget and urged all those who

supported it to get out and vote.

Of the total budget, 54 percent will go to education, 31.7 percent to the

selectmen's budget, 8.1 percent to educational debt service, 3.2 percent to

sewer debt service and 3 percent for selectmen debt service.

According to the town's finance department, 69.1 percent of the proposed

budget will be paid for with property taxes, 15.5 percent with state revenue,

11.4 with local revenue and 4 percent with surplus funds.