Town Budget Approval Hindered by Teacher Concerns

Last night’s approval of the Board of Finance’s budget proposal was marred by discussion of a teacher’s meeting underway at the Middle School that may lead to changes in the budget.

The teachers believe the Board of Education, which requested a 1 percent increase in expenditures for next year, is underfunded. in response, the educators may request additional money for next year, which could be added to the budget on April 5 during the public hearing on the proposal.

Finance board member Dyann Vissicchio expressed dismay that the two meetings were held at the same time, arguing that if the teachers' meeting had been held earlier the educators' requests could have been included in the budget.

But Board of Finance chairman Richard Monico defended the Finance board’s handling of the Board of Education budget, saying, “We have what they submitted.”

He also defended the town’s support for local education, noting, “We put out a good product for the dollars we spend.”

The board approved the overall budget of $84,091,296, a 1.1 percent increase over last year. The budget includes $39,702,282 for town expenses, and $44,389,014 for the Board of Educaction.

The 1.1 percent increase compares favorably with other Connecticut towns, some of which have proposed increases of up to 4 percent. 

First Selectman Michael Freda said North Haven would have proposed a negative budget without capital requests, which include $425,000 on a new fire truck and $205,000 for a sanitation truck.

Freda noted that the town may save money on the fire truck by ordering it in tandem with Hamden, which is currently planning on ordering its own truck.

“The aggregate purchasing power of two towns may contribute to savings,” he said.

Other new expenses included in the budget are $19,000 for library books, a $30,000 increase in utility expenses, $70,000 for salt shed, and $25,000 for road drainage.

The budget also encompasses the hiring of three new police officers, but Freda noted they are former officers from New Haven who do not have to be trained.

“The town wins because we don’t have to send them for training and it reduces overtime expenditures,” the First Selectman explained.

Committee member Michael Hallahan inquired about projected revenue, but was countered by Freda and Monico who asserted that the budget proposal only covered town expenses.

Town revenue will be determined to an extent by the yet-to-be-finalized state budget.

Freda noted that the state’s plan to eliminate machinery tax reimbursement will hurt North Haven because it has the ninth highest payout of Connecticut municipalities.

The loss may be offset by the planned .01 percent increase in sales tax, but Freda warned, “The projected increase in sales tax may be lower.”

“We authorize expenses tonight and wait for the state, as always,” Monico said.

The board voted unanimously to approve the budget proposal, and took questions from the audience.

The April 5 town hearing will present the next opportunity for community members to express their opinions, and possibly influence the final budget. It will be followed by the annual town budget meeting on May 9 and a town referendum on May 17, when the town votes on the final budget.