Community Corner

Five Budget Points Before the Town Council Votes Tonight

A look at the 2011-12 budget proposal that the Town Council will vote on tonight at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Southington Town Hall.

The Town Council will set the annual budget tonight when members are asked to vote on the proposal forwarded to them by the Board of Finance in late March.

The meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Southington Town Hall, will be open to the piblic. Here's what you need to know about the budget before they vote:

Budget Proposal Currently Stands at $125.2 Million –

After careful consideration and a month of workshops, the Board of Finance made a recommendation fro a $125.2 million budget in late March which the Town Council will need to give final approval for.

The budget represents a $1.6 million increase over the town’s current operating budget and is a $2.1 million reduction from the original proposal presented by Town Manager Garrison C. Brumback in early February.
 
Operating Budget Increase at 4.2 Percent, Board of Education Just 0.39 Percent –

If the council were to approve the recommended proposal, the budget now proposed would represent a 1.29 percent increase over the current fiscal year's budget, with the town’s general operating budget increasing by 4.2 percent and the Board of Education budget increasing by just .39 percent.

Although the Board of Education will receive just a small increase, the town was able to reduce funding needs by $1.16 million thanks in part to a one-time federal jobs grant. Due to this, a $1.24 million reduction amounts to just an $80,000 reduction in requested funding for the Board of Education.

Anticipated Effect in Tax Increases–

The Board of Finance recommendation, if approved as presented by the Southington Town Council, would increase the tax rate by 0.3 mills. So what’s that mean for you?

Currently, the proposed budget as presented by the Board of Finance would lead to a tax increase of $30 for a home assessed at $100,000 or $90 for a home assessed at $300,000.

$11,000 for Skate Park Remains on the Fence –

Council members will have a tough decision ahead tonight when they must determine whether to restore funding for the YMCA Skate Park, located at Camp Sloper on East Street.

The park last year served 1,100 visitors, many of which were not YMCA members according to staff members. If the funding is not restored, changes could be made to park operations.

Although the funding is not going to have much of an effect on the annual budget or mill rate, the YMCA is a private operation and residents have expressed concerns with the funding.

It’s All Available Online –

The town’s webpage, www.southington.org, provides residents with access to important documents including full, printable versions of the town’s annual budgets.

For more information, visit the Southington town website today or simply click the link here to go directly to the budget presented by the Board of Finance.


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