Community Corner

Public Gives Mixed Message to Finance Board

After hearing divided thoughts on whether to present a zero increase budget or leave it as is, the Board of Finance is faced with tough decisions.

Members of the Board of Finance have received two separate messages on how to develop a budget proposal this season, as the public was torn between approving the budget as presented and cutting costs down to a zero increase.

As many families struggle with hard economic decisions, more than a half dozen residents told members of the board during a public hearing this week that they’d prefer to see a zero increase in both the town and Board of Education budgets this year.

“I support the education system – people are fighting to get in – and I support everything the town does,” said Barbara Pasha. “In this economy, however, everyone needs to make sacrifices and that includes town employees.”

The request came Tuesday evening at the Board of Finance’s annual budget hearing, opening remarks from board members and town officials.

In a passionate speech that lasted nearly 15 minutes, former 22-year Board of Finance Phil Pomposi challenged the board to not only consider moving to a zero-increase budget, but to also look for cost savings by reviewing union contracts and increasing employee contributions for health benefits.

Pomposi, a Pleasant Street resident, also questioned whether the board should listen to those in support, saying with 2,500 residents now unemployed it is now more important than ever to keep costs down.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that (a zero increase budget) can be achieved,” Pomposi said. “I saw budget after budget every year, hearing the sky is falling, we would have massive layoffs. It never happened. Magically, everything seemed to work out all right.”

But not everyone was opposed to the proposed town manager budget. Another half dozen people spoke in favor of the budget as presented, including Lawrence Dipaolo.

“I work for the federal government and hear all the time, ‘we pay your salary’ but I pay taxes too. I am paying my own salary,” said Dipaolo, a Loper Street resident. “As far as I’m concerned, I’ve paid taxes in town for 13 years so you can take mine and put it towards (school and town budgets).”

Not everyone came up to speak negatively about the budget when asking for reductions, either. One Winding Ridge resident said he’s looked at five different states, patterns of government services and budgets and felt that the town could compromise and reduce the budget some.

Richard Post said he would like to see a compromise with unions in the upcoming budget that would give annual bonuses rather than raises in order to prevent year-to-year increases in the budget while still rewarding good work.

The board also said Monday that they would look to make the budget “as fiscally sound as possible” based on the advice of residents and economic conditions.

“The economy has had negative effects on each one of us in Southington and it is our job to scrutinize this budget,” Board Minority Leader John Moise said. “Everything must be questioned and everything must be answered for.”

The Board of Finance will now be charged with cutting from – or adding to – the budget and will need to make a final recommendation to forward to the council by April 4, according to town charter.


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