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TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF FINANCE
PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES
APRIL 9, 2007
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 7:07 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 2007-2008. He indicated the proposed town and school budgets represent a 7% increase in expenditures. The mill rate is proposed at 35.97, a 3.75% mill rate increase from the previous year. Chairman Guarco indicated use of fund balance of $1,600,000 and no use of the Capital Non-Recurring Expenditure Fund (CNEF) for the budget. 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 a not to exceed mill rate. 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.
As stated in previous years, Chairman Guarco commented on the shortfalls to municipalities from the state. Three points mentioned were:
· Reduces ability to manage major components of the budget
· Effectively displaces local view of how money should be spent with how the state wants it spent
· Mounting mandates are rising, yet state revenues to towns are flattening
Chairman Guarco mentioned the new consortium group called “CT Municipal Consortium for Fiscal Responsibility” and their purpose and goal.
First Selectman Adams presented the Selectmen’s Budget. He named the Board of Selectmen; Town Manager William Smith, Administration Finance Officer Barbarajean Scibelli, and Department personnel who participated in the budget process. Some major accomplishments were the completion of the expansion and improvements to Kelly Lane School, we continue to take pride that our Senior Center has been nationally accredited by the National Council on Aging, the town obtained a new Transportation grant for Senior Citizens and those with disabilities for medical appointments, and bridge replacement at Broad Hill Road. Also, Cossitt Library improvements have been done, the Police Department has been reaccredited for the fourth time, and lighting on Bank Street is just about complete – this project is being funded partially
with state funds. He went on to mention that the state has increasing requirements for Emergency Management and Homeland Security programs and the town is involved with a variety of activities.
First Selectman Adams indicated the town’s financial accomplishments include retaining a “AA” bond rating, receiving a favorable 4.06% bond rate in August 2006 for the sale of $7,800,000 in bonds, efficiencies through use of technology using Vision Appraisal as an example, and the town’s web-site continues to grow with the information available on-line, and flexible use of part-time staff.
First Selectman Adams then spoke about town expenditures totaling $13,071,127. He commented there are no increases in full-time staff but there has been some pick-up in salaries for grant fall off amounting to $12,147 in Social Services and Senior Services.
Major increases in the town budget were salaries ($176,731), Fringe ($95,038) includes increase in pension and FICA and net increase in the health plan, Insurance ($43,076), Energy ($39,449 gas, diesel, heating fuel, and electricity), and Solid Waste Collection ($20,597).
In summarizing the town budget, First Selectman Adams indicated the budget does maintain a current level of services through responsible budgeting, responsibly manages town’s new debt requirements, maintains General Fund Balance at 5% or more, and balances the needs of the community with the ability to pay for these needs. The budget does not address all the needs of library staffing, recreation staff, fire inspector services, town clerk and tax collector assistance, police clerical needs, and open space funding set-asides. He also indicated some future issues for Granby are buildings maintenance and improvements (GPL expansion and Cossitt Library Improvements), Salmon Brook Pond House replacement, capital maintenance requirements at Holcomb Farm, and town and school storage and wash-bay facilities.
Cal Heminway, Board of Education Chairman, presented the Board of Education budget. He introduced Board of Education members and Gwen Van Dorp, Superintendent of Schools.
The FY 2008 Board of Education operating budget request is $25,125,524. This budget request supports district infrastructure and operational needs such as facilities, personnel, transportation, technology, health benefits, maintains moderate class size and support staff, adds the equivalent of 2.6 full-time teachers, fund additional curriculum writing projects, add JV girls lacrosse, partially fund summer school, fund new after-school clubs, and support Choice students. The budget does not restore programs eliminated in previous years.
The capital improvement program request is $510,000. It includes transportation and existing leases - $180,326, facilities - $93,500, furniture, fixtures, and equipment - $47,710, and technology and existing lease - $188,464.
The expenditures for the Quality and Diversity Fund that runs through the municipal budget amounts to $223,579.
The public input overview appeared to be in favor of the proposed budget. More general questions were asked about reasonable salary increases by contract, uses of contingency fund, health benefits, increasing energy costs, Choice program, a gifted program reinstated in the schools, football program, common operational needs of both the Board of Selectmen and Board of Education, debt service, and possible changes to budget approval to make it an automatic referendum process. A few residents discussed initiating a tax freeze for residents 65 and older, based on age and income. It was pointed out that the town does have a tax relief program but a tax freeze is not allowed by Connecticut law.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:28 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Christian
Acting Recording Secretary
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