This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
04/03/2018 12:00 AMEssex voters will get a chance to weigh in on the town’s proposed town and schools spending plans at a budget public hearing on Thursday, April 26 at 7:30 at the Town Hall.
The budget presented by the Board of Finance last week shows an increase of $19,991 when compared to the current fiscal year’s budget, an increase of only 0.08 percent. The total $24,098,258 proposal includes the selectmen’s budget, the Essex Elementary School Board of Education, and the town’s anticipated share of the Region 4 Board of Education.
Essex Finance Department Director Kelly Sterner said the town’s share of the Region 4 School Budget has decreased as has the elementary school budget, both due to staff cuts and other cuts.
“All in all we are seeing practically flat numbers,” said First Selectman Norman Needleman, who noted “the Board of Selectman unanimously approved considering a reduction in the mill rate, understanding that we’ve exceeded our revenue in nearly every area.”
The Board of Finance makes the final decision to set the mill rate; last year it delayed setting the rate after the budget was adopted due to state funding uncertainty (an uncertainty that remains this year), but the Board of Selectman can recommend to the Board of Finance to request a flat mill rate, Sterner said.
“Things are coming together very well, and because we’ve been conservative about our revenue estimates, the further cuts by the state in revenue won’t have as big an impact,” Sterner said
A lack of major upcoming projects is also helping the town.
“We dedicate money every year for infrastructure, so that includes roads, sidewalks, etc.,” Sterner said, noting that the town has just completed a major infrastructure improvement package. “We’d gotten the funding on that and we have been working on our five-year capital plan and for next year we’re going to continue with it.”
Since there are no large projects set for the 2018-’19 fiscal year, Sterner said “wages and fringe [benefits] are going to have the biggest impact on the budget as far as increases go.”
The Board of Finance holds a public hearing on the budget proposal on Thursday, April 26 at 7:30 at the Town Hall; it will meet immediately after to adopt or modify the budget, which then goes to the Annual Budget Town Meeting on Monday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Auditorium. Regional School District #4 Budget Referendum is from noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, in the Town Hall Auditorium. Registered Essex voters and citizens aged 18 and older with $1,000 or more in taxable property are eligible to vote.
2018-’19 Budget Expenditures Summary
Town/Selectmen’s Budget: $8,076,003
Essex Elementary Board of Education: $7,372,220
Region 4 Board of Education (Essex Share): $8,650,035
Total $24,098,258