Selectmen OK, Move $40.2 Million Budget To BOF Review
After meeting with members of the Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers, representatives of the Booth Library and its board, the Board of Fire Commission, and the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps chief February 5, the Board of Selectmen completed its departmental review and unanimously approved a 2015-16 budget request of $40,203,958.
That proposal includes all municipal operational expenses plus all debt service on capital borrowing for the town and school district. Requested debt service totals $10,110,702 and represents about a $233,000 reduction from the current budget year.
The first group to appear before selectmen was Booth Library Director Brenda McKinley and library board President Robert Geckle and Treasurer William McCarthy.
Mr Geckle began the presentation telling selectmen that the board’s goal is to continue making incremental investments to the facility for the benefit of the entire town.
“Our library has become a place of refuge for many here in the community,” Mr Geckle said, adding that the current budget reflects spending for services and programming keyed to “all groups in town.”
Ms McKinley noted that many of the children’s programs are sold out, and that a growing variety of young adult programs is getting increasing attention. She said the library recently developed a “virtual small business center,” and the acquisition of a three-dimensional printer is driving a lot of new interest as well.
Mr Geckle said in the coming years, the library is planning to ramp up its fundraising in order to offset the cost of more investments in both the facility itself, as well as programs and equipment. Adding more 3D printers and possibly a video production program were among the things Ms McKinley said she would like to see happen in the coming year.
First Selectman Pat Llodra reminded her board that the library’s reserve fund was gone, which prompted adding a capital bonding request to the town’s Capital Improvement Plan. The library was subsequently approved for $1,189,979, which includes a $35,545 increase.
ETH Board Of Managers
Chairman James Juliano, and fellow Edmond Town Hall trustees Andrew Clure and Margaret Hall were next up before selectmen. Mrs Llodra began the discussion relating that, like with the library, residents recognize the value and importance of the Main Street landmark. As a result, beginning in the 2015 fiscal cycle, selectmen have included a bonding request for $300,000, with another $250,000 requested in 2017.
That bonding is earmarked to cover replacing a flat roof at the back of the building; replacing two old boilers; installing ductless air conditioning units; replacing all water piping in building; and replacing old cloth-covered electrical wire with plastic coated wire.
While the impact to the managers’ operational budget would be reduced maintenance costs, the capital investment results in a lower contribution rate from the town. Selectmen also noted that the board was reporting a robust reserve fund balance, and subsequently approved a $49,804 allocation.
Selectman James Gaston, Sr, requested to add $25,000 to that amount, but while his motion was seconded for discussion, it was defeated with Mrs Llodra and Selectman Will Rodgers voting No. Pointing out that the board of managers currently has more than $350,000 in its reserve account, Mrs Llodra said it provided “evidence that you can be sustainable.”
“We can’t ask more from taxpayers when you have a lot in the bank,” she added.
Mr Rodgers also noted that with nearly $600,000 in revenues for the current year, “trending here is going the wrong way” to justify taxpayers providing more operational underwriting to the organization.
Ambulance Association
Chief Michael Collins apologized to the board because the Ambulance Association’s financial liaison Bruce Herring had to cancel his appearance due to illness. Mr Collins admitted he was mostly an operational manager and had little knowledge of the intricacies of the association’s budget.
Before approving an unchanged budget request of $270,000, Selectman Gaston questioned the association’s $900,000 reserve.
The chief replied citing a $1 million mortgage obligation for the volunteer corps new headquarters, and a need to begin adding new supplies and equipment that were being deferred as the building was being developed.
He told selectmen the ambulance wants to add one or more mechanical CPR machines at $10,000, two or three power lift stretchers at $15,000 each, and a swing arm lift for at least one ambulance at about $35,000. Chief Collins said that the stretchers and swing arm would greatly reduce incidents of back injuries among corps volunteers.
Mrs Llodra then noted that the town devotes $40,000 per year to a fund designed to purchase replacement ambulances on a regular basis, as well as covering two-thirds of a dedicated paramedic service for town residents at $230,000.
Staff Wage Increases
Several members of the Board of Fire Commissioners attended the meeting, the last group to come before the selectmen to answer questions about a $1.253,597 budget request — representing a $33,567 increase.
Fire Commission Chairman Rob Manna and Botsford Commissioners Jay Nezvesky, Ron Bolmer, and Elisa Goosman were on hand to answer questions, which centered on a requested $2,000 increase annual compensation for the full-time deputy fire marshal’s position.
Mr Manna, who also serves as an officer at Newtown Hook & Ladder, said that compared to other neighboring municipalities, the position is underpaid at $44,000 compared to similar positions with like responsibilities in Trumbull, Shelton, New Milford, and Southbury.
The board recommended an increase for that post, to $46,836, which also includes a previously budgeted 1.9 percent general wage increase. Another $1,000 was requested to supplement two part-time deputy fire marshals.
Fire service savings in the dues and travel, the benefits, and radio/pager lines offset some of the other increasing expenses like truck repair and maintenance services. The fire line overall increase is 2.75 percent.
Other itemized selectmen’s budget actions all approved and moved to the Board of Finance included:
Senior Services $314,627
Newtown Youth & Family Services $298,368
Outside Agency Contributions $88,842
Economic & Community Development $73,681
NW Conservation District $1,500
Newtown Parade Committee $1,000
Reserve For Cap. & Non-Rec $250,000
Building Department $407,389
Social Services $144,112
Newtown Health District (contribution) $383,555
Children’s Adventure Center $143,753
Land Use $675,316
Newtown Cultural Arts $2,500
Contingency $350,000
Total Selectmen Budget $40,203,958
The Board of Finance has set a public hearing on the selectmen’s and Board of Education’s approved budget proposals Thursday, February 19, at 7:30 pm in the Newtown Municipal Center council chambers. After the hearing, the finance board plans to take up discussion on the school district spending plan.
The Board of Education voted to adopt its 2015-16 budget request of $72,253,488 on Thursday, February 5, representing 1.27 percent increase over the current year.