After a public hearing Thursday, the Board of Finance has much to consider as it finalizes a proposed spending plan for 2010 – 2011.
“We’re going to take the next couple of days and take in what everyone said,” Finance Board Chairman Mark Thompson said.
Many speakers said Thursday they can’t afford a tax increase of any kind.
The 2010 – 2011 budget, if approved, would raise the tax rate by 2.23 mills.
A house assessed at $200,000 would see its tax bill increase by $446 next year.
The combined school and town budget clocks in at a total of $50.8 million — a 3.53 percent 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.
Philip Chambers said he makes $24,000 a year and would like to retire one day. He is “totally against the budget,” he said.
See the video above for more statements from Chambers.
“You’ve got to be realistic. You’ve got to drive around and see what is going on. People talk about the country getting better, you know? I don’t I see it,” Chambers said.
Frank Conroy, vice chairman of the town’s Police Commission, said the town needs to curb spending.
“I believe in my heart that every one of the boards could still make cuts,” Conroy said.
Other speakers Thursday were against the Board of Education’s budget increase of $970,000.
Educators had asked for an increase of $1.6 million, but it was not granted.
Superintendent of Schools MaryAnne Mascolo was given an opportunity to address many of the concerns brought up by those in attendance.
See video.
The school district is facing increased costs, just like everyone else, she said.
“The funds that we are asking for — everyone has increases in their heat, everyone has increases in their electricity and the Board of Education also has increases,” she said.
“So that money, I’m asking you to fund the level of services budget and I’m asking you to fund the town’s budget. We are a community and we work well together and we have to value our children.”
Not everyone was upset with the budget.
Al Bruno said he knows times are difficult for towns and school districts and he was disturbed by a lack of funding to the Economic Development Department. He still supported both sides of the budget.
“This is not an unreasonable budget,” Bruno said. “Taxes have to increase at some point to move the town forward.”
John Szuch, chairman of the town’s Economic Development Commission, said the economic development department’s request was lowered 33 percent. A request to hire an economic development manager was eliminated.
“One question that I do have, which continually escapes me year after year, is why does the Town of Seymour refuse a full-time economic director? All of the towns surrounding us have them,” he said.
The budget could be tweaked at either the April 13 Finance Board meeting or at a town meeting scheduled for April 22 before it goes to voters in May.
