The Town Council on Tuesday pulled money from four different accounts to set a tax rate of 20.95 for the coming fiscal year, a 4.1 percent increase over the current mill rate of 20.13.

Councilors approved the transfers 7-1 after learning last week that revenue had fallen significantly and unexpectedly. The council couldn’t fix the problem by reducing expenses because the Representative Town Meeting already had approved the budget and the budget adoption deadline had passed.

Money provided by the schools also offered some relief. The Board of Education voted last week to return $303,000 to the town, which it saved by buying heating oil and diesel fuel at a reduced rate, and saving on maintenance.

Superintendent Michael Graner said he also learned that Groton would receive an additional $1.07 million in Federal Pupil Impact Aid, which provides money to communities that have children living on a large amount of tax-exempt federally owned properties.

In Groton, the money is used primarily to help educate the children of military families.

Councilor Deborah Peruzzotti, who cast the sole vote against the transfers, said the council didn't work hard enough to cut the budget. Now she said the best she could hope for was raiding other funds.

“I really hate the situation that we’re in right now, to be perfectly honest,” she said. She added that she felt “like my hands are completely tied.”

The council voted to take $750,000 from the solid waste fund, initially collected when Groton closed the Flanders Road landfill years ago; $451,500 from the capital reserve fund, which was set aside for future capital projects; $65,000 from the fleet fund, which was saved to pay for future vehicles and $100,000 from the recreation and senior activities fund.  

Councilor Joe de la Cruz said the decision to transfer money might spare taxpayers some expense now, but it could also mean unbearable pain later. The money was meant for items the town eventually will need, he said.

“Sometimes kicking the can down the road doesn’t help anybody,” he said.

d.straszheim@theday.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim