Groton Town Council approves 2.75 percent tax rate increase
Groton — The Town Council on Tuesday approved a tentative tax rate of 24.28 mills to fund the budget for the coming fiscal year, a mill rate increase of 2.75 percent.
Councilors also approved a budget of $125.9 million for the 2018-19 fiscal year, a 4.2 percent increase over current spending. Town Manager Town Burt had proposed a budget of $128.6 million.
“Difficult decisions were made keeping the best interests of all our citizens in mind,” the Council said in a prepared statement. “As a Council, we have tried to challenge departments to seek efficiencies through structural changes, sharing services, seeking alternative sources of funding, and differentiating between wants and needs.”
The tax rate would rise 0.65 mill from the current 23.9 mills if the tentative rate ultimately is approved. For each $100,000 of assessed property value, taxpayers would pay an additional $65 in taxes.
The Representative Town Meeting reviews the budget next, and the council would adjust the rate depending on changes made by that body. Councilors also could opt to take money out of the town’s unassigned fund balance to lower the tax rate, but Finance Director Cindy Landry advised against that, saying bond rating agencies want a higher amount in reserve.
Education covers the largest portion of the town budget, and the council met with the Board of Education to discuss ways to protect the school budget and taxpayers, the councilors’ statement said.
The council and board found a way to fully fund the board’s request, with the minimum budget requirement coming from taxes, and the requested increase coming from savings and grants, the statement said.
Councilors cut $1.85 million from the requested $78.3 million for education, bringing the total covered by taxes down to about $76.5 million.
Councilors also included capital projects they felt could not wait, the statement said.
“The police radio system was a safety issue for our officers in the field. Fuel tanks must be removed and replaced as per environmental regulations,” the statement said. “A firewall to protect our data had to be replaced. These are some examples of the many capital items that had been deferred year after year and had to be addressed.”
Regarding staffing, the council continues to look for efficiencies while maintaining services and to pursue economic development opportunities, the statement said.
“We did not always agree and each of us challenged the staff and each other to present the town with the lowest possible tax increase without ignoring our community responsibilities and working to secure fiscal stability,” the statement said. “We remain optimistic and will continue our commitment to better education and securing new and renovated schools, implementing (tax increment financing) and protecting Groton’s natural beauty. We look forward to realizing our community’s potential through smart growth while protecting our quality of life.”
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.
