nothin New Haven Independent | RTM and BOF Act on Town-School Budget

RTM and BOF Act on Town-School Budget

Marcia Chambers Photo

A major initiative in the town-school budget for the 2015 – 16 fiscal year, a $19.6 million general obligation refunding project, was enthusiastically endorsed by the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) last night in a unanimous bi-partisan vote.

The RTM’s action came two days after the Board of Finance (BOF) approved the same bonding measure along with a $103.6 million town-school budget. After reflection, discussion and compromise, the BOF reduced the town and school budgets totaling $105.3M to $103.6M Monday night, a $1.8 million cut. The BOF budget that emerged after three days of public hearings reflects an increase of $940,130 or 0.9 percent over last year’s $102.6M budget.

The school budget came in at $53.2 million and the BOF cut only $53,516 of that budget. The school budget makes up the largest portion of the overall budget. 

Marcia Chambers Photo

First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove thanked the BOF for all their hard work and for maintaining the level of services the town provides. It is a budget to be proud of,” he said as the BOF’s final budget meeting Monday night drew to a close.

At last night’s RTM meeting at Fire Headquarters, RTM Moderator Dennis Flanagan said the bonding refunding action would save the town $1.5 million.

Bonding Initiative Sails Through

Rep. Peter Black (top photo), the chair of the RTM’s Ways & Means Committee, said it was important for the RTM to act now on the bonding initiative given an upcoming April deadline. The deadline had prompted the RTM to hold the special meeting last night. As a result, this aspect of the RTM budget, which includes a number of capital items that typically fall within the general budget, are no longer part of the annual RTM budget agenda meeting to be held on May 12.

The RTM will soon get to work on the overall BOF budget. And while it cannot increase the budget, the RTM can reduce it at its annual budget meeting on Tuesday, May 12. First the BOF budget will be analyzed before various RTM committees. Mooney said the BOF will meet on May 18 to set the mill rate for the 2015 – 16 fiscal year. Once that is set the property tax is established.

Members of RTM, virtually the entire Republican majority, attended the BOF meeting Monday night. They gave no indication they would stop where the BOF stopped.

New Bonds, Too

The bonding initiative also included $6.8 million in new authorizations for upcoming projects, and while they were not specifically outlined they include $500,000 for design work for the community house, which will be redesigned and reconfigured to include a senior center and $560,000 for the demolition of the Branford Hills School. Black said the $560,000 figure was high end.” 

Some school projects were involved in the bonding process as well, including window work and partial roof work for certain schools as well as $1.550 million for the high school track and field replacements, elevator and bathroom renovations at Walsh Intermediate School and other school items.

Black said it was possible that perhaps $200,000 might have to be spent to handle hazardous waste including asbestos in the Branford Hills School building, which was built in 1955. In the end, there was a sense that absent a plan over the years for a school built without a gym or cafeteria and in need of a basic technological upgrade, it would take nearly $3.7 million to bring it up to speed. As it stands right now, Black said, the former school has deteriorated and is a liability to town as it stands.” Click here to read about it.

Adam Hansen, the RTM clerk, said the school served the 4th district and the residents with whom he spoke were generally in favor of demolishing the building and creating a park and possible soccer and field hockey fields on the 12 acres of land. The Branford Hills area, which lies in an area with many condo developments, is under-parked,” Black said. 

Marcia Chambers Photo

Mooney explained at the Monday meeting that the BOF discussed the proposed town and school budgets individually and among themselves as well as in conference with Cosgrove and Finance Director Jim Finch. Suggested changes came afterward. The BOF held three days of public hearings. The BOF formally agreed on every item except one. Kurt Schwanfelder, one of the six BOF members, said he believed the contingency fund, which came in at $530,000 was too low.” He wanted to raise it but no vote was taken. 

Finch attended the RTM meeting but was not asked to speak to the bonding issues. He told the Eagle previously that the new bonding initiative seeks aggressive debt replacement and that this was the right time to do it. And since the town was going to the store, he added, this was the right time to also add new bonding initiatives rather than wait until the fall. 

Mooney said the BOF will meet on May 18, after the RTM makes a final decision on the budget. On that date it will set the mill rate for the 2015 – 16 fiscal year. Once that is set the property tax is established.
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