Stonington — The proposed 2019-20 borough budget, which will be voted on at the April 27 annual borough meeting, shows a one-tenth of a mill increase.

The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Borough Hall.

The proposed budget totals $1,295,837, an increase of about $48,000. This would increase the tax rate from 2.9 mills to 3.0 mills.

One of the increases comes in the salary for the zoning officer, which will increase from $15,000 to $35,000. Borough Warden Jeff Callahan said he is requesting the increase because the current four hours a week the zoning officer now works is not enough time to do the job.

“The job is getting more technical and more complicated. It’s impossible to do just one night a week,” he said.

The zoning officer currently works from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays.

Callahan said he envisions the zoning officer possibly working five hours a day, three days a week for a total of 15 hours during regular business hours. He said this would be better for both residents and contractors who need to do business with the zoning office and will allow the zoning officer to be able to go out and check on projects during daylight hours.

Callahan said the budget also includes $15,000 for physicals for those firefighters who may be called upon to enter buildings to fight fires, as Occupational Safety and Health Administration and National Fire Protection Association requirements have become more stringent in this area.

He said he and fire officials have spoken with an occupational health expert from Yale New Haven Hospital, who told them that cardiac arrest is the No. 1 killer of firefighters and that physical exams sometimes reveal medical problems firefighters are not aware of.

“This benefits the firefighters and the borough,” he said.

j.wojtas@theday.com