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05/16/2021 12:00 AMBy a 24-5 vote by the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) on May 11, Branford will be supported by a budget of $120,515,315 in the new fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2021. The new budget's bottom line is an increase of approximately 2.1 percent over the current town budget of $118,017,423.
During meetings in April and May, RTM committees workshopped all sections of Board of Finance (BOF) recommended 2021-22 Town budget, which the BOF completed in March. All RTM committee results were brought to the full RTM for consideration May 11, at which point the full RTM enacted measures which shaved an additional $258,000 from the BOF-recommended budget.
Next, on Monday, May 24, the BOF is expected to meet to set the new mill rate, which is anticipated to nudge up slightly over the current rate of 28.92 mills. An agenda for the scheduled May 24 BOF meeting was not available at press time for this story. Prior to the RTM's final cuts of $258,000 on May 11, the BOF's recommended budget of $120,773,315 carried an annual spending increase of approximately 2.3 percent; which would have created a new mill rate of 29.52. For a property assessment of approximately $250,000, that would equate to about a $150 increase in property taxes next year, according to BOF chair Joe Mooney.
The BOF anticipated funding its recommended 2021-22 budget with non-tax revenues of $17,552,277 and a net of $106,292,038 raised from property taxes, based on a collection rate of 98.1 percent from the Town's $3.693 billion grand list and support from a general fund balance allocation of $3,078,000.
The town's current general fund balance stands at approximately $25 million. In setting the new mill rate, the BOF may act to additionally adjust 2021-22 budget revenue coming from the general fund to further offset additional taxation created by the new mill rate.
RTM Budget Changes and Debate
On the way to finalizing the budget May 11, the RTM reduced the Board of Education (BOE) operating budget by $100,000 due to a vacant position which will not be filled in the new fiscal year. As noted later in the meeting by RTM Majority Leader Ray Ingraham (R, District 5), the $100,000 cut was negotiated with Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez. The BOE's capital and leases budget was not altered by the RTM, remaining at $298,000 as recommended by the BOF. The RTM voted unanimously to adopt an amended total 2021-22 BOE budget of $60,203,541.
While the vote to support the amended BOE budget was unanimous on May 11, several RTM members, including Democratic Minority Leader Tom Brockett (D, District 7), Shahida Soomro (D, District 4), Michele Sember (D, District 1), Peter Hentschel (D, District 2), Peter Jackson (D, District 3) and James Stepanek (R, District 4) expressed concern with what they felt was a less than desirable quality of education and/or a lack of communication between the board and the RTM Education Committee.
RTM parliamentarian Rep. Peter Black (R, District 3) reminded the RTM that the reduction of $100,000 "...is in no way a punishment. It's simply adjusting the budget to projected staff levels. That what's this adjustment is about."
Turning to the town government side of the budget, the RTM's work on May 11 resulted in reductions totaling $158,000 to create a new town departments total budget of $60,311,774. In reviewing and discussing changes to the town side of the budget, the RTM heard and accepted the Public Services committee's recommendation to reduce Police Services capital budget for new cruisers from $180,000 to $108,000; and for cruiser equipment, a reduction from $105,000 to $63,000; with the understanding money transferred from the current fiscal year will cover the costs of the two cruisers and equipment being removed from the 2021-22 budget.
The RTM also heard the Public Services committee's recommendation, by 3-2 vote, not to take up the BOF's recommendation to increase a civil engineering position from part-time to full-time, at a cost of approximately $41,000. In response, Brockett made a motion to support the full-time position in the Engineering Dept. operating budget. Representatives Tracy Everson (D, District 5), Chris Sullivan (D, District 6), Hentschel and Ingraham spoke in support of the amendment.
"It's very important for the town to keep up with the pace of the changes that have been happening in town," said Ingraham. "Much of the [Town's] economic plans are kicking in now after several years, and we have many projects on the horizon and on the desk of whoever gets hired to start doing this work."
The full RTM voted unanimously to fund the additional $41,000 to create the full-time position.
Another item under the purview of the Public Services committee, funding the open position of the Public Works Director, was scrutinized by the RTM on May 11. Brockett made an amendment to reduce the Public Works budget by $107,878 so as not to fund the open position in 2021-22. Brockett said the Town has continued to fund the job annually despite keeping the position open since December, 2016.
Ingraham responded that the question of the open Public Works Director position has been answered previously by First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove (R).
"Unlike the [school budget's $100,0000 reduction] movement earlier, which was negotiated with the Superintendent of Schools that they would not be hiring, and did not need the money, this item has been responded to by the First Selectman that he'd like to keep it funded," said Ingraham. "So I ask our fellow members to honor that request."
Representatives Linda Erlanger (D, District 4) and Sullivan spoke in support of Brockett's amendment. Erlanger said almost $600,000 has been expensed in the past five years that the First Selectman has supported keeping the open position the budget, while not hiring a director.
"It's not fair to taxpayers to put this money in the budget," said Erlanger.
Sullivan said it's a disservice to the citizens to continue to pay for the open position, which includes incremental salary increases, and also noted the money becomes a source for fiscal year-end transfers of funds used by the department.
"We're giving a raise to nobody every year. This in on the books," said Sullivan. "Every year, later in the year, we have transfers out of Public Works Department to pay for equipment [or] whatever. So the funding is not being used for a Director. I just can't support funding this position again, and giving it a raise."
Cosgrove attended the May 11 RTM meeting, where he responded to some of the comments raised concerning funding the Public Works Director position.
"This body is well aware the town does fully fund vacant positions. That is a practice that the town has adhered to for many, many years. It is looked upon favorably to do that, by rating agencies," said Cosgrove. "The dollars are being used. There is restructuring going on. You just approved a part of that with the Engineering Department. So there are improvements. You're dealing with multiple bargaining units, several departments, it [takes] time. I just ask the body not to be short-sighted [and] fund this position."
Representative Dan Adelman (D, District 4) addressed a comment made by Cosgrove on the question of the Public Works Director position being raised at the RTM's May 11 meeting while it hadn't been raised earlier, in committee, "...when the work of the RTM is done," said Cosgrove.
"The last I knew, the RTM is conducting business now," said Adelman.
With regard to Cosgrove's response to the need to continue to fund the position, Adelman said, "...the only reasons I've heard is the First Selectman is in favor."
Adelman additionally said that to continue to fund the open position because "... it's been done before," while at the same time cutting a $100,000 position from the schools' budget, "...doesn't make sense."
"I haven't heard [an] articulation that makes any budgetary sense," said Adelman.
Rep. Richard Aitro (R, District 4), said he supported funding the open Public Works Director position.
"A town this size, it would be foolish not to have that position," said Aitro, noting the funds, if not spent, go into projects or back into the department's contingency funds.
"So if we put it in the budget and don't fill it, it goes back. And if it wasn't there, if we have a need, we wouldn't be able to get [those funds]," said Aitro. "Fortunately, the [first] selectman can do his work in a way he can also oversee this department [to] have it run and organized. He has knowledge of the town and a deep knowledge of Public Works."
Cosgrove said the town is fortunate to have Public Works Supervisor Gary Zielnski on the job and overseeing the department.
"In terms of overseeing the department at this time, he's done a tremendous job," said Cosgrove.
Following discussion, the RTM voted on Brockett's motion to reduce the Public Works budget by $107,878 for fiscal 2021-22. The motion failed by a party-line vote of 13-16.
The RTM's final budget action on May 11 was a roll call vote to adopt its amended 2021-22 Town of Branford budget of $120,515,315. The motion passed 24-5, with RTM Democratic members Brockett, Soomro, Sullivan, Everson and Clare Torelli (D, District 1) voting against.
A listing of all RTM members can be found at www.branford-ct.gov. The RTM consists of 30 elected members and currently has a GOP majority of 17. The RTM moderator also serves as ex officio for all RTM committees and does not vote except in the case of a tie. The moderator is currently Dennis Flanigan (R).