2.66 Percent Increase Proposed for North Branford Schools; 2.51 Mill Rate Increase Proposed for Town

The main items on the agenda for the March 19 North Branford Town Council meeting were the presentations of the proposed budgets for the schools and the town, presented by Superintendent Scott Schoonmaker and Interim Town Manager Bonnie Therrien, respectively. 

Both Therrien and Schoonmaker thanked their staff and administration as well as the Board of Education for their efforts in finalizing the proposed budgets.

Schools' Proposed Budget

The 2012-13 Board of Education budget was $29,386,427. Schoonmaker noted that several retirements allowed the Board of Education to implement full-day kindergarten despite cuts to the proposed budget.

Schoonmaker and Director of Personnel Don Winnicki presented the Board of Education's 2013-14 budget request with an increase of $781,310 to bring the proposed budget to $30,167,737 for a 2.66 percent increase.

"We know how difficult these times are," said Schoonmaker. "But it’s also difficult to stand before you and say we’re not bringing anything new, that there's nothing to get excited about as far as new programs or initiatives."

Of the 2.66 percent increase, .64 percent is allocated for security personnel and equipment with Schoonmaker noting that "Dec. 14 has forever changed the way we educate and secure our schools."

The security team has been in place since February. North Branford schools have had a police presence since the Newtown shootings.

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Town's Proposed Budget

Therrien presented a proposed budget that she called "A Tale of Two Towns." She acknowledged the Town Council's desire to maintain the mill rate, but noted that trying to that for a third straight year "will mean the cutting of services, reduction in personnel hours and the cutting back of more and much needed infrastructure improvements on our facilities and vehicles."

In order to maintain services, move ahead with various capital projects and work toward a long-range plan for the town, Therrien proposed a 2.51 increase in the town's mill rate from 27.77 to 30.28 for a proposed budget of $49,954,973. 

Therrien's proposal includes adding two police officers (the North Branford Police Department requested three), dealing with infrastructure deteriorations at North Branford Police Department and North Branford Public Works, technology enhancements and approximately $13,000 for the study the Economic Development Commission wants to perform to develop the long-range plan for Route 80 and beyond.

Therrien presented "A Tale of Two Towns" to the Council, asking "Do we move forward as a community? Do we maintain what we already own?" and more versus "Do we stay stagnant? Do we reduce service levels and programs? Do we watch infrastructure deteriorate and close facilities?" 

What's Next?

Budget booklets will be available at the meeting and following that date, the booklets can be picked up at the Town Hall, Town Clerk’s Office, libraries and the Board of Education office. The proposed budgets will also be posted on the Town’s website. 

The Town Council will then hold Budget Workshops with town departments and the Board of Education on Thursday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 23 at 9 a.m.; and Tuesday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. All workshops will be held at Town Hall in the Council Chambers.

There will be a public hearing on the proposed budgets on Tuesday, April 2 at Town Hall at 7 p.m.  

"It is important for the public to come out and let the Town Council know your feelings," said Therrien. "My door is open if anyone would like to go through the budget and understand it better." 

For more information on the budget process, call the Town Manager’s Office at 203-484-6000.

How do you feel about the budget? What issues are most important to you? What do you want to know more about?