Residents at hearing support Ledyard's proposed budget
Ledyard — Most residents at Monday's public hearing spoke in favor of the town's proposed $53.6 million budget, calling it fiscally responsible.
Since Mayor John Rodolico first rolled out his proposed $53.8 million budget in early March, the finance committee and the town council have made changes to slightly decrease the number.
The current $52.7 million budget resulted in a 1.75-mill increase in the tax rate while the budget revealed Monday night would increase the rate by about 0.5 mills to 30.41.
The increase, according to Councilman Fred Allyn, would mean anywhere from a $55 to a $180 yearly increase in property taxes for residents, depending on the value of their home.
Rodolico's budget consisted of about $30.8 million for the Board of Education and about $22.9 million for general government — increases of about $601,000 and about $472,000, respectively.
But, in a series of budget hearings, committee members decided to allow only an approximately $361,000 increase for education. To compensate in a way, they agreed to take $50,000 from the general government budget — as well as $100,000 that would've been an increase in the school budget — and put it toward the Board of Education's capital non-recurring account, where it will be available for the school board to use for various future improvement projects with town approval.
"When the school project was coming forward, there was a substantial amount of discussion regarding the lack of preparation for major (school) building maintenance," Allyn explained, referring to the $65.8 million school renovation project voters approved in January.
School officials said it's tough to see money taken from funds that would've directly benefited students through programming and materials, but emphasized their long list of capital projects and willingness to work with the Town Council.
"It's difficult, but they're the constraints we have to work around," said Board of Education Chairwoman Julia Cronin. "We have a relationship with the Town Council and we need to work with them because this is one community. We need to work together in order to produce the best product that we can."
Resident Bruce Edwards called on town officials to remember that what may seem like a small increase to them isn't always small on the individual level.
"If my tax increases by $120 to $180 a year, I've lost a week's pay," Edwards said. "I can't turn around and tax somebody to cover my increase in expenses. I can't do that the way the town can do that to me."
Many, however, applauded those who worked on the budget, calling it reasonable and saying they moved to Ledyard in part or solely because of its school system.
On the general government side of things, the budget creates no new staff but does allow for an independent police department to be created, if that's what the town decides to do.
Allyn explained that, under Gov. Dannel Malloy's proposed budget, the town's sole resident state trooper could cost $60,000 more, bringing the price tag to about $210,000 annually.
"He's a great guy ... but it's an expensive proposition," he said.
Allyn said he expects a decision to be made one way or the other by the end of this year.
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