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TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF FINANCE
PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES
APRIL 10, 2006
PRESENT: Michael Guarco, Chairman; Gordon Bischoff, Francis Brady, B. Scott Kuhnly, Frederick Moffa, OD; and Al Wilke
Board of Finance Chairman Guarco called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and introduced the Board of Finance to the public.
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 2006-2007. He indicated the proposed town and school budgets represent a 5.2% increase in expenditures. The mill rate is proposed at 34.67, a 3.77% mill rate increase from the previous year. Chairman Guarco indicated use of fund balance of $970,000 and no use of the Capital Non-Recurring Expenditure Fund (CNEF). He then went on to discuss tools used by the Board of Finance for developing a mill rate. The stabilization in the mill rate comes from long range planning and fiscal discipline using the foundation of the Statement of Commitment. The Statement of Commitment is a document in which the three boards commit to a plan for the town and school,
including establishment of the mill rate. Other items reviewed are major capital projects, capital equipment improvement program, and the computer model. These tools provide long range planning for projects in future years. Chairman Guarco stated that this year’s budget meets the growing needs of the community. Some of which are: Increases in operating budgets for town and school, Kelly Lane School start-up, school personnel, debt service, municipal personnel, insurances, and utilities. He commented that the Board of Finance has proposed to set the mill rate below 4%.
As stated in previous years, Chairman Guarco commented on the shortfalls of the state with municipalities. Three points mentioned were:
· Reduce ability to manage major components of the budget
· Effectively displace local view of how money should be spent with how the state wants it spent
· Mounting mandate important yet flattening state revenues to towns
Chairman Guarco discussed the new consortium group called “CT Municipal Consortium for Fiscal Responsibility”. He presented three slides to show how the group has grown into over 150 boards being represented in this group. This group will be pressing for legislative changes concerning state budgets and its impact to local budgets.
First Selectman Adams presented the Selectmen’s Budget. He named the Board of Selectmen, Town Manager Smith, and Department personnel who assisted in establishing a budget. Some major accomplishments were the completion of Wells Road School expansion, Kelly Lane School expansion in progress, added official size ball fields at Ahrens Park, bridge replacement over Bissell Brook, Lost Acres Road and Mechanicsville Road improvements, and the Plan of Conservation and Development has been updated and filed with the state.
First Selectman Adams indicated the town’s financial accomplishments include achieving a “AA” bond rating, receiving a favorable 4.87% bond rate in February 2006 for the sale of $10,000,000 in bonds, efficiencies through use of technology and flexible use of part-time staff, and communities joining together to build purchasing power. Senior Citizens’ activities were highlighted to demonstrate the efficient use of its budget. This budget accounts for five part-time employees. Some of the activities were 108 individuals participated in one or more exercise classes, two workshops conducted for the Medicare Part D program where over 150 seniors attended, over 3,300 trips provided to over 145 registered riders, and Men’s and Women’s Monthly Breakfasts that have over 100 in
attendance.
First Selectman Adams then spoke about town expenditures for a total of $11,834,677. He commented the Capital Equipment/Improvement Fund accomplished more than what was indicated from last year; however, more needs to be done. The request for this fund is $920,000.
Major increases in the town budget were salaries ($126,112), which includes a ½ new person hired in Public Works midway in FY ’06 and an IWWC consultant and clerical assistance on an as needed basis ($19,000), Fringe ($115,922), Energy ($70,091 gas, diesel, heating fuel, and electricity), and Solid Waste Collection ($29,114).
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 and the part-time IWWC consultant, 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. It was noted that the General Fund Balance should be maintained at 10% versus 5%. The budget does not address all the needs of library department, senior and youth programs, fire inspector, town clerk and tax collector assistance, police dispatching and communications, police clerical requirements, and impending open space. He also indicated some future issues for Granby are buildings maintenance (Cossitt Library in particular),
Salmon Brook Park Improvements (Pond house), capital maintenance requirements at Holcomb Farm, and forthcoming open space opportunities.
Matthew Wutka, Board of Education Vice Chairman, presented the Board of Education budget. Vice Chairman Wutka introduced Board of Education members and Gwen Van Dorp, Superintendent of Schools. He began the presentation with highlights of the district’s mission, school accomplishments, and individual accomplishments. Some of these accomplishments are:
School
Governor’s summer reading challenge and athletic championships
Individual
1. Arts, music, athletic, and academic recognition for students
2. CT Middle School Principal of the Year and semi-finalist for CT Teacher of the Year
3. Between 87% and 94% of students in grades 4, 6 and 8 met NCLB targets in reading and math
4. The percentage of 10th graders who met CAPT goals reached an all time high
5. In 2007 student enrollment of 130 and performance in nine AP courses increased
District
1. Hosted National Professional Learning Community Conference; completed district reorganization and achieved transportation efficiencies by new bus runs
Mr. Wutka reported on Board of Education’s efforts in generating additional funding, which are over ½ million dollars per year in tuition income, $25,000 in pay for participation fees, $70,000 in building use fees, and $171,550 in quality and diversity revenues are some of the additional funding. He commented that the student enrollment shows a leveling off position. A slide was presented showing the Farmington Valley towns for FY 2005 net expenditure per pupil with the highest being East Granby in the amount of $11,316. Granby is at $9,493. The net expenditure per pupil excludes land, debt, and special education costs.
The FY 2007 Board of Education operating budget request is $23,859,930. This budget request supports district infrastructure and operational needs such as electricity, fuel oil, transportation, health benefits, Kelly Lane addition, maintains moderate class size and support staff, adds the equivalent of 1.2 full-time teachers, provides support for NEASC ten-year accreditation site visit and reading tutors, funds tuition for 18 students to attend inter-district magnet schools, funds tuition for 12 students to attend college connections program, partially funds for summer school, funds new after-school clubs and girls’ swim teach, supports teacher and parent diversity training, and supports Choice students. The budget does not restore programs eliminated in previous years, add new programs, add new supervisory positions, or
meet administrative requests for additional clubs, sports, and programs.
The capital improvement program request is $460,000. It includes transportation and debt service - $140,037, facilities - $108,282, furniture, fixtures, and equipment - $47,221, and technology and debt service - $164,460.
The expenditures for the Quality and Diversity Fund that runs through the municipal budget amounts to $171,550.
The public input overview appeared to be in favor of the proposed budget. More general questions were asked about student teacher ratio, pension administration challenges, uses of contingency fund, health benefits including plan design, Choice program, unfunded state mandates, common operational needs of both the Board of Selectmen and Board of Education, impact of utility cost increases, debt service, and practices of General Fund Balance. The public also commented on pursuing other opportunities, for example, restore eliminated programs, sidewalks around town, and high tech equipment for police cruisers.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia I. Chieski
Recording Secretary
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