Town Council Back to Drawing Board for Budget

Just one week ago, the North Branford Town Council approved a $48.8 million budget with a 29.1 mill rate to be sent to referendum. But now, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's proposed cuts to the municipal general fund revenue for North Branford would total $193,472 (cuts by town are in the attached PDF).

"The state budget climate continues to pose difficulties for towns in Connecticut with respect to anticipated revenues," said North Branford Town Manager Mike Paulhus in his weekly report for April 26. "A special meeting of the council will be called to address a possible shortfall in state revenues."

Now, the North Branford Town Council must reconvene to address the possibility of the cuts. The Council will meet on Tuesday, April 30 at 6 p.m. at North Branford Town Hall.

The budget workshop agenda includes discussion of revenues as well as the budget for the Board of Education, general government and debt service.

Members of the Board of Education, as well as staff from the schools and Superintendent were at the April 22 meeting when the Town Council announced it was reducing the Board's requested budget by $700,000. With the cut, the BOE will receive a .25 percent increase over the 2012-13 budget. Schoonmaker had requested a 2.66 percent increase.

The cut was met with gasps from the crowd and mutterings of "That's disgusting" and "Shame on you." Schoonmaker addressed the Council, stating his concerns and displeasure (see video for his comments).

Councilor Ron Siena responded by saying, "Look again at your budget, look at where you can tighten up."

Other departments received requested items through 'found' money from state grants and reallocations, including the fire department's requested thermal imaging camera, roof replacement on the pavilion at North Farms Park and reconstruction of the tennis courts and basketball courts at Memorial Field.

While the two requested police officers were cut from the North Branford Police Department's proposed budget, the e-ticketing system was revisited with Police Commission Vice Chairman Dave Palumbo explaining that while the system costs $14,130, "it more than pays for itself in the first year [due to hours saved on paperwork, etc.], never mind the safety of the officers on the street level." The e-ticket system was approved.

Now the budget will be reexamined on Tuesday, April 30 at 6 p.m. The full agenda for the special meeting is also attached as a PDF.

Will you be there? Where do you think cuts should be made if the town loses the funds?

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