SEYMOUR – First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis proposed a $70.4 million budget March 16 that carries a spending increase of $2.2 million, or 3.3 percent.
Her budget proposal is now under review by the members of the Seymour Board of Finance.
If the Drugonis budget was adopted as is, the new mill rate would be 29.06 mills, an increase from the current mill rate of 27.72 mills.
That is an increase of 1.34 mills, or 4.84 percent.
The proposal could change by the time it goes to voters in the spring.
The members of the finance board are scheduled to meet again 7 p.m. Wednesday (March 18) to continue their review.
“Like many communities, Seymour is facing rising costs, changes in state funding and increasing service demands,” Drugonis said. “At the same time, residents are dealing with higher costs in their everyday lives. Because of that, every department was asked to review spending carefully, question increases and focus on the services that are most essential. The result is a disciplined, responsible budget focused on maintaining services while continuing to move the town forward.”
The finance board will hold a public hearing on the town and school budgets at 6:30 p.m. Thursday (March 19) at Seymour Town Hall.
Mill Rate Impact
The Valley Indy selected a few Seymour houses at various locations to look at what a tax bill could look like if Drugonis’ budget was passed today.
Tax bills are calculated by multiplying the assessed value by the mill rate and then dividing by 1,000. Click here to look up your address and find the value.
Under Drugonis’ proposed mill rate of 29.06 mills, a single-family house on Brookfield Road assessed at $436,170 would pay $585 more per year in taxes.
A house on Colony Road assessed at $268,800 would pay $360 more per year in taxes.
A house on Bungay Road assessed at $195,790 would pay $262 more per year in taxes.
Keep in mind the mill rate and dollar amounts above are not set in stone as the budget is in draft form and under review.
Drugonis Says ‘No Fluff’ In Her Proposal
Drugonis’ $70.4 million bottom line combines two budgets: $27.6 million for the town and $42.8 million for the Seymour Public Schools. The combined bottom line increases spending by $2.2 million, or 3.3 percent, over the current $68.2 million budget.
Under Drugonis’ proposal, spending increases by $797,960 on the town side of the budget, and $1.4 million on the education side.
Drugonis’ school budget proposal is $504,775 short of the school board’s requested budget of $43.3 million.
The school board had requested a $1.9 million, or 4.7 percent, funding increase, which school officials call a status quo budget. Click here for a previous Valley Indy story.
Drugonis said she used a 3.5 percent increase for the school budget as “a placeholder” in order to come up with a proposed mill rate.
Here’s a breakdown of the items driving the overall $2.2 million increase in Drugonis’ proposed budget:
*Board of Education: $1.4 million increase
*Emergency services: $372,698 increase
*Employee benefits and town insurance: $335,786 increase
*General government: $49,431 increase
*Utilities: $20,775 increase
*Senior Citizens Tax Relief: $15,000 increase
Drugonis’ budget includes salary increases between 2.2 and 2.5 percent for town employees. Drugonis said she is not taking a pay raise.
Finance Board Chairman Richard Demko, following the meeting, said the budget looks lean.
“I think it’s a very conservative budget this year, but I haven’t really had eyes on it that long. This is the first time I’m seeing it,” Demko said. “We’ll take a look at it and see if all these things make sense.”
Next Steps
Demko said the finance board will probably recommend a budget on March 23.
The proposed budget will then be forwarded to the annual town budget meeting in April. At that meeting, if at least 50 residents attend, they can vote to increase or decrease the proposed bottom line.
A townwide referendum on the town and school budgets is scheduled for the spring.