Voters Approve $50.3M Budget
On May 9, Old Saybrook voters overwhelmingly approved the town budget of $50,276,744, a $1,189,977 or 2.52% increase.
The town budget was approved with 239 votes in favor and 37 against. The education budget passed by a margin of 239 in favor to 34 opposed.
The total budget combines spending requests for the town and the Board of Education (BOE), representing a $1,899,041 or 3.90% increase over the current year’s budget. The BOE budget is $28,829,506, a $1,356,165 or a 4.90% increase. The town budget is $21,447,238, a $542,876 or a 2.60% increase.
The mill rate increased by .38 mills to 20.46 mills. The mill rate was formally set at a Board of Finance meeting following the announcement of the referendum results.
Before the referendum, Old Saybrook Finance Director Lee Ann Palladino attributed the budget increase to “salary increases that were based on contractual obligation associated with the town’s four collective bargaining agreements. Operational expenses were associated with an increase in the paving budget, as well as higher costs of services and goods due to inflationary pressures.”
Proposed capital projects—spending on items that last longer than a budget cycle, like vehicles or roof repairs— include “...police vehicle lease, continued work on town roads, building maintenance, and investment in technology infrastructure,” according to a budget summary document prepared earlier this year by First Selectman Carl Fortuna.
“The town set aside funds to update the town’s natural hazard mitigation plan, update Trask Park by resurfacing the basketball court, repairing the tennis court, and adding wind screens. The largest project will be replacement of the HVAC system at Town Hall,” Palladino said earlier this year.
Reached for comment after the budgets passed, First Selectman Carl Fortuna said he was “grateful” for the budget process to be over so the town could focus on other needs.
“The budget process is such a long process; we really begin working on it back in October, so it’s so gratifying to see when one passes. This budget is one that fully funds our town and allows for some innovative projects. The mill rate increase is one that is historically pretty average for an increase for us. I want to thank everyone who worked on the budget this year,” Fortuna said.
Last year voters passed both proposed budgets also in landslide margins. This year's turnout was low but up from last year, with 278 voters coming out to vote.