The Board of Finance approved a 2.23 point mill rate increase Monday, bringing the tax rate to 28.03 mills.
If voters approve the school and town budget later this year, a property assessed at $150,000 would pay about $4,200 in taxes next year — an increase of about $330 from this year’s tax bill.
Finance Board member Leonard Greene, Jr. was the sole negative vote. He said the mill rate is too high, given the economy. He noted the average tax bill will go up $446, based on a $200,000 assessment.
Watch the video for Greene’s statement.
First Selectman Paul Roy said it will be up to the voters to determine if the increase is too high.
He had originally pushed for no more than a 2 mill increase but suggested the board consider the higher rate when it became obvious the education budget wouldn’t meet its “foundation” budget.
That’s what Superintendent of Schools MaryAnne Mascolo references as the bare essential operating budget for the town’s schools. It contains unavoidable costs (such as utilities) and contractual obligations.
The school district had asked for a $1.6 million increase in spending for the 2010 – 2011 school year.
However, the finance board voted to give them $970,000 — the amount needed to hit that “foundation” budget. That dollar amount equals a 3.3 percent spending increase for the schools.
Mascolo indicated the bare bones school budget is a step backward.
“I believe that this budget is going to erode the work and direction that we’ve been moving this district in,” she said.
Several parents came out in support of properly funding the education budget, requesting the board at least meet the foundation level to help stem the cutting of positions and programs.
K.C. Sirowich talked about his children discussing the technologies that are helping them learn in new ways in the classroom. He was happy to see the foundation met and said if it meant bettering the future of the town through the children he would be willing to push the mill rate a little higher.
“It’s kind of bitter sweet,” Sirowich said. “Times being what they are you take what you can get.”
The combined school and town budget clocks in at $50.8 million — a 3.53 increase over the current budget.
Of that, education comprises $30.1 million.
Town government spending is up 6.3 percent to $15.4 million, with another $5.1 million for debt services.
The Board of Finance has scheduled a public hearing on the 2010 – 2011 budget for Thursday, April 8 at 7 p.m. at the Seymour Middle School, 211 Mountain Road.
Copies of the budget will be made available at the library, the town clerk’s office and on the town’s Web site.
