Date: Fri 26-Apr-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

budget-council-cuts

Full Text:

Voters Approve $49.6 Million Budget

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Voters at a special town meeting in the high school auditorium Wednesday

evening approved the revised $49.6 million municipal/school budget 1996-97 by

a vote of 398 to 152.

"I think it is important that the town move ahead now," said Legislative

Council President Joseph Mahoney afterwards. "The council did good job

representing the true cost of the proposed school projects in the budget. Now

people will have an opportunity to decide whether they want those projects."

Many of the comments during the meeting were aimed at the $3,266,075 that was

included in the budget as next year's debt service for the proposed high

school and Hawley School projects.

"I'm confused as to why we are voting on the budget with the debt service for

projects that we haven't approved yet," said Polly Brody of Main Street. "I

feel we should tie the timing of the appropriation for the projects with the

vote on the projects."

But Council Vice Chairman Melissa Pilchard said that putting the cost of the

first year's principal and interest payments for the school projects into the

budget was "the fair thing to do" because it presented an accurate accounting

of the potential total impact of next year's budget.

The budget, with the additional debt service, is up 10 percent over the

current year. It would have been 11.6 percent higher but the council cut

$700,000 from the budget after it was defeated by 85 votes in the April 23

referendum.

School supporters clearly dominated the crowd which filled half the seats in

the 1,200-seat auditorium. Some parents brought their children. Among the 550

voters were high school seniors, including Michelle Johnson, who came to the

microphone to defend the proposed $26 million high school project. When some

members of the audience questioned her right to speak, Town Attorney David

Grogins, who served as the meeting moderator, confirmed that she was a

registered voter, prompting a loud outburst of applause.

"Our school is growing," Michelle said. "If you were in our school during the

day, you would know we do need the renovations and expansion."

Joseph McGowan, the council's finance chairman, said putting the debt service

for the projects into the budget was "more honest" but added "it's now time to

take it out."

Lyndon Thomas of Juniper Road said that about 40 percent of the cost of the

school projects will be offset by reimbursement from the state.

But several people said the cost of the budget was simply too high and was

jeopardizing their ability to remain in town.

"The increase concerns me as a senior citizen on a fixed income," said Charles

Hegenauer of Chimney Swift Drive. "I really will be forced to move out of town

if this continues."

"There will be no end to this," said Frank Franz, a Bethel resident who owns

property in Newtown. "Next year besides the debt service for bonding there

will be the increased operating expenses for the bigger schools. Besides

senior citizens, look at all the unemployed people who can't afford this."

"Once the ball starts rolling, there's no stopping it," warned Danny Amaral of

Elm Drive.

The vote on an amendment proposed by Jack Bonacci of Castle Hill Road to

remove the debt service for the two projects was soundly defeated by a

show-of-hands. Only the final vote of the evening was by paper ballot.

Martin Schertzer of Bayberry Lane tried several times to reduce the budget. He

first proposed removing $790,000 from the selectmen's budget -the amount of

this year's increase - but Atty Grogins said the town charter required that

specific line item cuts be made. In fact, questions about the language of the

charter and Roberts Rules of Order often predominated during the meeting. Town

officials conferred several times and once a two-minute recess was taken so

the rules could be checked.

In another attempt to reduce the budget, Mr Schertzer proposed removing

$262,000 from the selectmen's budget and a similar amount from the school

budget. He read a list of cuts from the first selectman's account, the

library, computer center, health director, youth services, public safety,

police department, fire department, paramedic, building official, and parks

and recreation.

Mr Grogins then ruled that each item must be voted on separately. Mr Schertzer

proposed taking $42,000 out of the first selectman's account but the amendment

was defeated.

When a motion was made to close the discussion and vote on the entire budget,

Mr Schertzer vehemently objected.

"I indicated I had a series of motions to make," he insisted. "You have

usurped my rights. This meeting is a farce."

Questions about what will happen to the tax rate if the proposed school

projects are eventually rejected at a town meeting also were raised several

times during the evening. Mrs Pilchard said if that happens, it has always

been the council's intent to remove that portion of the debt service from the

budget.

But Town Finance Director Benjamin Spragg said there isn't much time left

before the tax bills have to be sent to the printer.

"The billing of taxes takes place in June," he explained. "I'm not sure we

will meet that timeline. If we can't, the $3,226,075 would have to (stay in

and) come back as surplus in the following year's budget."

Art Polstein of Bentagrass Road wanted to know how much surplus came back to

the town this year. Mr Spragg said the surplus, which has been included in

next year's budget, was $1,979,153.

Mr Polstein wanted to know how much of the surplus will be used to offset

taxes and how much is targeted for other purposes. Mr Spragg said some of the

money ($575,000) was placed into the town's capital reserve fund for

non-recurring expenditures.

No one answered Mr Polstein's remark that "I'm sure it was to be spent for

some project," although at previous meetings both the first selectmen and the

council said they intend to propose using the $575,000 to renovate Town Hall

South. This allocation also would have to be approved by voters at a town

meeting, however.

The feelings of many of the parents at the meeting were expressed by Mary

Burnham of Walnut Tree Hill Road who strongly supported the school budget. She

said that both of her children were accepted at top-rated colleges because of

the excellent education they received in Newtown.

"This school system has done wonderful things for my children and I want to do

the same for all of the other children in this town," she said.

After the poor turnout in the April referendum, when only 20 percent of the

voters came to the polls, town officials were pleased to see the crowd at the

town meeting.

"It makes for a long night but it's good for democracy," said Selectman Jim

Mooney.

The new budget carries a tax rate of 25 mills. Because of the recent property

revaluation, property owners who want to predict what their 1996-97 tax bill

will be must multiply their new property assessment by .025.

The average property assessment increased 40 percent in the revaluation. For a

house previously assessed at $100,000, and now assessed at $140,000, the new

budget will bring a $300 increase in taxes.