Ledyard — For residents wondering about an impending supplemental tax bill, the picture got a bit clearer.

Next week the Town Council will vote on issuing a supplemental tax after the town's Finance Committee unenthusiastically moved the measure forward during a meeting Tuesday night. 

If the council votes to approve the measure at its Feb. 28 meeting, residents then would be issued a supplemental tax bill of 1 mill, which would be due April 1, although they'd have 30 days from that date to pay it.

The supplemental bill is projected to raise more than $1 million for the town.

"This is a very unfortunate example of what happens to a lean, efficient, small-town government when the state makes the cuts that they've made," Mayor Fred Allyn III said at the meeting. "Depending on the size of the municipality, many can absorb this based on their funding level and what they have previously done."

"Ledyard isn't really in that position," he said.

After seeing a more than $1.5 million cut in state aid, Ledyard has sought to make up the shortfall through a combination of cost reductions and furlough days by both town government and the school district. However, the town only was able to make up about half of that, leaving it still facing about a $750,000 deficit heading into the new year.

The possible need for a supplemental tax bill was discussed by the Town Council and mayor as far back as December, but they were not enthusiastic about the idea, often describing it as a last resort.

Even as it became increasingly clear the supplemental tax bill was inevitable, town officials elected to hold off on setting the rate as long as possible due to concerns that additional cuts from the state may be forthcoming.

c.clark@theday.com