TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF FINANCE
MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING
APRIL 12, 2010
PRESENT: Michael Guarco, Chairman; Gordon Bischoff, Francis Brady, Robert Clark, Frederick Moffa, OD; and Al Wilke
Also present: John E. Adams, First Selectman; Matthew Wutka, Board of Education Vice Chairman; William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager; and Alan Addley, Superintendent of Schools
Board of Finance Chairman Guarco confirmed a quorum and called the public hearing to order at 7:00 p.m. He opened the hearing by stating this hearing, according to Town Charter, is held on the second Monday in April to present the budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. The annual town meeting will be held two weeks later on Monday, April 26, 2010. Chairman Guarco acknowledged members of his Board.
Chairman Guarco commented in reviewing the budget, the school and town held the line on overall spending at 0% and property tax is kept fairly flat. He stated the order in which presentations would be made: town operations budget, school operations budget, and questions and answers or comments would follow.
Chairman Guarco presented some slides on the Board of Finance intent. Highlights were:
· Integrate Debt Service Peak Into Mill Rate
· Consider Near-Term Future Years
· Use Of Reserves To Flatten Out Debt Service Spike
Chairman Guarco concluded his presentation indicating the proposed mill rate change increase is 1.1% for a proposed mill rate of 29.79 for Fiscal Year 2011.
First Selectman Adams presented the Selectmen’s Budget. He thanked the Board of Selectmen, Town Manager Smith, the Administration Finance Officer, and Department Heads. He indicated two budget workshops were held and he received a number of letters opposing the cuts in the library operations and supporting the zero increase in budget operations.
First Selectman Adams highlighted the following for the Police Department.
• Organized 50 years ago. Four Chiefs have served the Department. Our present Chief being David Watkins.
• In 1976, established a regional public safety dispatch system. The towns involved are Granby, East Granby, and Hartland for Fire, Ambulance and Police.
• In 1995, received National Accredited status. One of Connecticut’s first to accomplish this recognition.
• Department maintains investigative and training requirements in today’s complex environment.
Other Granby’s accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2010 were:
· Senior Center continues to be awarded grants
– CT DOT Transportation grant and Older Americans Act grant
· Other Grants awarded
– Tri-town Cable TV grant
– Emergency Management Performance Grant
– Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (Sidewalks Extensions)
– Northeast SARE – Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (Agriculture Commission)
– Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Grant for Cossitt Library Renovations
– Purchase of Development Rights for the Bushy Hill Orchard made possible from a State Grant, Granby Land Trust, and Town and Open Space Fund Contributions.
– The Granby Rails to Trails program is complete. Regional efforts through CRCOG grant to maintain the trail are in place.
Matters in progress are:
• The implementation of a new residential curbside trash and recycling collection using “Single-stream recycling” has proven to be a success. Another additional savings for FY 2011 will be realized in an amount of $40,000.
• Celebrate Granby 225 Committee is meeting regularly; check the website at granby-ct.gov. Special events are also being planned over the next year and a half.
• Temporary improvements to Salmon Brook Park Bathhouse.
• Small pavilion and restrooms are under construction at Ahrens Park.
• Silver Street Bridge Replacement with construction targeted for 2010-11.
First Selectman Adams showed a graph explaining annualized tax increases during the past 10 years for Connecticut towns. Granby has had an overall increase of 3.21% placing us solidly in the bottom half of all towns in Connecticut.
He indicated the 2010-11 budget request is $40,490,726, of which $13,823,132 is the municipal service budget including a debt service decrease of $276,724. The municipal expenditures are General Government Departmental - $8,761,920, Capital Budget - $765,000, Economic Development Funds - $10,000, Capital Non-recurring Expenditure - $250,000, and Debt Service - $4,036,212.
First Selectman Adams indicated that the town’s labor agreements are in negotiations. Other budget highlights were:
• Salary Reserves of $68,000
• Fringe Benefit increase of $65,050 [Includes $12,782 increase in pension and FICA, and $52,268 net increase in health plan with a stop loss provision to protect the plan]
• Probate – $2,000 Consolidated court will be in Simsbury with towns of Granby, Simsbury, Avon, and Canton.
• SW & Recycling Collection – 2011 savings ($40,000) -- 2010 savings ($50,000)
• Public Works position eliminated – ($50,276) Amount includes wages and benefits.
• Library Part-time Salaries – ($63,189) Library operating hours will be reduced.
• Library Books – ($5,000)
First Selectman Adams explained the slide “How To Fund the Budget Request”. The budget is funded from property taxes with about 75% of the total amount being $30,193,216, an increase of $499,931 over last year. Intergovernmental revenues (state grants) from the State of Connecticut decreased by $245,740 from last year $7,043,085 (-3.4%). Local revenues from fees for services, permits, rents, interest from short term investments, and use of CNEF and total $1,034,425. Lastly, fund transfers in the amount of $1,655,000 for use of General Fund Balance. This is a drop of $506,000 from last year.
He stated that projects on hold for another year are Salmon Brook Park improvements, capital needs at Holcomb Farm, town and school storage and wash-bay facilities, municipal and high school track/fields, and Granby Public Library expansion.
First Selectman Adams concluded his presentation by summarizing the following dot points.
• Long-range planning supports stability
• Municipal Services 0%
• Debt Service requirements ($276,724)
• Attempts to maintain quality services to meet the basic needs of Granby’s Citizens
Board of Education Vice Chairman Matt Wutka presented their budget and a video clip describing America’s and other countries’ position for the future. The video clip showed some statements like: “Did you know …….”, “You are 1 in a Million in China”, “There are 1,300 people like you”, “China will soon become the Number 1 English speaking country in the world”, “The 25% of India’s population in the highest IQ’s is greater than the total population of the United States”.
Vice Chairman Wutka stated Section 3, pages 6 – 11 of the Proposed Town Budget book describes the school’s mission, and budget goals and plan.
Vice Chairman Wutka showed the proposed operating budget amount at $26,667,594, a zero percent increase from last year. One of the slides identified “What makes up the $26,667,594 budget”:
· Reg. Educ. Sal. & Benefits $17,552,254 65.8%
· Utilities $955,391 3.6%
· Buses $785,426 2.9%
· Bldg. Main., Legal & Misc. $596,513 2.2%
· Supplies Purchased Svc. & Student Activities $2,196,616 8.2%
· Other Special Educ. Costs $1,112,429 4.2%
· Special Educ. Sal. & Benefits $3,468,965 13.0%
Vice Chairman Wutka further indicated the significant account impact for this year’s budget as:
· Assistance from our teachers (approximately $325-$400K)
· Operating line items – textbooks (-$24,289); Library services (-$10,684)
· Transportation (-$37,811 elimination of a bus route)
· Custodial Services (elimination of 1.0 fte not filled in FY 10)
· District Technology Assistant (no additional expenditures in FY 11)
· Athletics & Extracurricular Activities (No additional expenditure)
Other expenditure impact described by Vice Chairman Wutka were:
· Nursing Services (+122 hours, +$19,000)
· Software contracts and upgrades ($24,216)
· Curriculum & Consultancy Services (level funded in FY11)
· Communications (-$12,419)
· Maintenance Purchased Services & Supplies (-$10,700)
· Capital Funds (-$5,000)
Vice Chairman Wutka presented other slides about Special Education Outplacements and Quality & Diversity which details can be found in the proposed budget book pages 14-15; 25-27; 35-37.
Vice Chairman Wutka identified the Board of Education operating appropriation request at $26,667,594, Small Capital Equipment request at $525,000, and the Education Quality and Diversity Fund request at $365,060.
PUBLIC INPUT 2010
There were several comments from residents that expressed concern for the impacts made to the zero percent budget increase, those being decreases in library services, elimination of a bus route, and elimination of personnel. There were no dissenting comments and all supported the budget. The public overall expressed their appreciation for developing the budget that proposes the town and school operating budgets at zero increase.
Other comments and answers were:
1. More demands are being made at the Library for services for all ages. How was the library chosen to absorb the decrease in hours and equipment being offered to the public?
a. The Library’s decreases in services assists the town with a zero budget increase because this is where the decreases would be realized and still offer services with some adjustments for the residents. Minimum staff is running most town offices, some offices must meet state requirements, and safety of residents cannot be jeopardized.
2. Would like to see less expenditure spending.
3. Question on why the Rte. 20 parking lot was built since Public Works must maintain it and it has been seen not being used much.
a. The use of Rte. 20 parking lot at Salmon Brook Park is for overflow parking needs. The parking area is used a lot during games of baseball and soccer.
4. The school is reviewing school redistricting issues.
5. Capital projects should be kept on hold for a long while.
6. Technology information is the future and we need to invest more.
ADJOURNMENT
After all public input was heard, Chairman Guarco adjourned the public hearing at 9:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia I. Chieski
Recording Secretary
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