TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF FINANCE
MINUTES OF PUBLIC HEARING
APRIL 11, 2005
PRESENT: Michael Guarco, Chairman; Gordon Bischoff, Christopher Comer, Francis Brady, Frederick Moffa, OD; and Al Wilke
Board of Finance Chairman Guarco called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
The Public Hearing, according to Town Charter, is held on the second Monday in April to present the budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year.
Board of Finance Chairman Guarco gave an overview of the anticipated revenues and expenditures for Municipal, Education, and Debt Service for fiscal year 2005-2006. He indicated the proposed town and school budgets represent a 4.5% increase for a mill rate of 33.41. Chairman Guarco indicated that some of the driving forces for the tax increase are the commitments made for Wells Road and Kelly Lane Schools expansions, improvements to Salmon Brook Park, creation of fields at Ahrens Farm Park, steps taken to strengthen General Fund Balance since the town is planning to request an upgrade to its bonding rating this summer, and the rising cost in fuel (gas and oil) and electric. He commented on the shortfalls of the state with municipalities, stating revenues are taken away from towns who at one time received them, places caps
and applies partial funding percentages on local aid formulas, and combines formulas at lesser amounts. Chairman Guarco then discussed the initial steps taken for creating a new consortium group called “CT Municipal Consortium for Fiscal Responsibility” who have joined three other groups, CABE (CT Association of Boards of Education), COST (CT Council of Small Towns) and CCM (CT Council of Municipalities). These four groups have common elements to present and advocate to the state level in efforts to untie the local hands in managing town fiscal affairs. Some of these common elements are reform binding arbitration, raise thresholds under Davis-Bacon (prevailing wages), and back off on new mandates, and meet funding commitments on existing mandates.
First Selectman Adams presented the Selectmen’s Budget. He commented that the new organization Connecticut Municipal Consortium for Fiscal Responsibility has supported what our town leaders face in developing a budget.
Some major accomplishments were increased funding for the Elderly Tax Deferral program and Veteran’s Tax Exemption, and the Senior Center’s National Accreditation acknowledgement. Other accomplishments were cooperation with regional and adjacent towns, added ball fields at Ahrens Farm Park, a children’s play area for ages 2 thru 12 at Salmon Brook Park, and the Wells Road and Kelly Lane Schools expansions. First Selectman Adams indicated the Board of Selectmen contributed substantially to hold the mill rate under 5%. Some of the savings were $148,000 from refunding bonds in Debt Service for FY ’06 and future savings of approximately $100,000 over the next few years, efficiencies through the use of technology, and flexible use of part-time staff.
The municipal services and debt service increase is 2.9% from last year. He spoke about the significant need for personnel in the Public Works Department. There has been no addition to personnel since the 1980’s, however the town continues to grow.
First Selectman Adams then spoke about revenues and expenditures for a total of $33,908,806. He commented the Capital Equipment Improvement Fund feed from the General Fund was reduced by $312,000. A transfer of funds of approximately $565,000 from the Communications Fund, TAR, and LoCIP will contribute to capital revenue. He then discussed some of the unfunded mandates (street signs, EMED, Veteran Tax Relief, State Permit Costs, School Sprinkler Requirements, Motor Vehicle Delinquency List fees, reduction in TAR, cutbacks in gaming distribution fund), and how it affects the town budget by placing the burden to pay for these programs locally. This cost equates to approximately $83,000 to the town expenditure side.
Major increases in the town budget were salaries ($143,738), which includes a new person hired in Public Works midway in FY ’06, Fringe ($57,801), Energy ($35,410 fuel and electricity), and Solid Waste Collection ($19,015).
In summarizing the town budget, First Selectman Adams indicated the budget does maintain a current level of service, addresses the long term need of personnel in the Public Works Department, responsibly manages town debt service, maintains General Fund Balance at 5% or more, and balances the needs of the community with the available resources to pay for these needs. The budget does not address the needs of a wetlands officer and library and senior citizens requirements.
Cal Heminway, Board of Education Chairman, presented the Board of Education budget. Chairman Heminway reiterated from his presentation to the Board of Finance on March 28, 2005 the following topics: met the BOF guideline of +5% for operating budget, BOE small capital projects and acquisitions amount to $350,000, plus $60,000 of building use revenue.
Budget highlights for increase district efforts to improve student literacy are:
Maintain reasonable class size and teaching assistant support
Add a part-time MS reading teacher
Purchase appropriate instructional materials
Utilize services of literacy consultant available through the Open Choice Program
Support reading in the content area
Provide ongoing support for continuous improvement efforts (consulting teachers, curriculum, and professional development)
Budget highlights for new and ongoing costs of expanded intermediate schools are:
1. Add support staff at Wells Road (secretary, custodian, teaching assistant)
2. Fund operational costs of an expanded Wells Road facility
3. Equip new classrooms with instructional resources
4. Increase instrumental music teacher
5. Transfer teachers and maximize use of shared staff across buildings
6. Add two bus runs
Budget highlights for the middle school transition are:
1. Move students back into a single building
2. Provide students with access to all Unified Arts offerings
3. Provide increased time for teacher collaboration around student achievement
a. Support three new Advanced Placement classes and expanded participation in the College Connections Program
b. Provide ongoing support for continuous improvement efforts (conferences, curriculum and professional development, and NEASC)
4. Adjust staffing (teaching and administrative) to reflect a small student population
a. Transfer 1.0 FTE teacher to intermediate school; add .5 FTE middle school reading teacher
b. Provide additional administrative support
5. Support math and science curriculum changes
a. Implement 7th and 8th grade math program
6. Extend support of Salmon Brook Ecology Center
Budget highlights for the high school budget are:
1. Add 2.6 FTE new teachers and .8 FTE shared teachers
2. Support math and science curriculum changes
3. Increase support for student participation in College Connections Program
4. Transfer middle school assistant principal to an eleven month high school assistant principal
5. Increase athletic and enrichment opportunities for students
Other budget highlights for technology integration are:
Add part-time 6th grade computer teacher
Provide computer instruction to all 7th and 8th grade students
Add a full-time computer technician
Increase support for technology integration and strategic planning
Building upon use of curriculum development software, data collection and analysis, and the interactive whiteboard program
The driving forces for the budget were district reorganization/Wells Road Expansion $380,000, transportation $60,000, utilities $93,000, curriculum $62,000, salaries $770,000 and benefits
~-$45,000, special education $98,000, utilities $88,466 for electric and $132,000 for fuel oil. Lastly, increases in ELL tutors (English Language Learner), school health services, and maintenance equipment. Savings in severance payments and reductions in central office support staff assisted in balancing these increases.
The Quality and Diversity Fund appropriation request is $161,600 covering the cost of support services for Choice students and other selected programs benefiting students.
In summary, the BOE budget is $22,358,730 Operating Budget, $410,000 Capital Improvement, and $161,600 Quality and Diversity.
The public input overview was eight to three in favor of the proposed budget and three undecided. Other subjects mentioned by the public were: legislative developments at the state and local levels, mill rate increase still too high but understandable given the debt service, shared services between the town and school, enjoys the quality of life in Granby, addition of new personnel on the school and town sides, happy to hear about the new group and its efforts to address the federal and state unfunded mandates put on the local towns, technology infrastructure, graduation rate, and outsourcing by the town and school.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia I. Chieski
Recording Secretary
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