Seymour Kicks Off A Tricky Budget Season

SEYMOUR — The Board of Finance kicked off its first meeting of the New Year last week talking budgets and boosting bill collections from private vendors. 

The board, during its Jan. 26 meeting, discussed the upcoming budget process for the 2021 – 2022 fiscal year.

Finance Director Doug Thomas said all town departments have submitted their individual requests, and a series of budget workshops with the various department heads will get underway next week.

The first workshop is set for 7 p.m. Monday (Feb. 1), with the police department. The Public Works budget will take center stage on Feb. 3, followed by the board of education budget on Feb. 8. The school board recently approved a $35.5 million budget that carries a 2.6 percent increase.

Thomas said workshops with the rest of the departments will be scheduled throughout the rest of February. The workshops will take place via Zoom. Those interested in tuning in can get the meeting ID’s on the town’s website Public Meeting Teleconference Information.

At first blush, Thomas said the budget is looking good,” with several retirements and resignations, and all things considered” with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we’re not doing too bad.”

First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis, presiding over her first budget since appointed the town’s top chief last October, is ready to roll up her sleeves.

Drugonis did caution the board that the new police accountability bill, passed by the state last July, will likely cause a boost. She said there is specific equipment like body cams and dash cams that need to be purchased by July in full in order for the town to recoup 30 percent back from the purchase. 

Whatever the departments ask for this year, board member Richard Demko said with the hardships caused by the pandemic, the board has to find a way not to just hold the line on taxes, but figure out how to lower the mill rate.

I want to make it clear that under no circumstances this year will I consider departmental wish lists and will not consider departmental budget increases beyond contractual requirements and basic operating expenses,” Demko said. I believe it is imperative that we bring meaningful financial relief to our residents during this difficult and unprecedented time. I am asking my colleagues on this board to do the same and join me in pledging to set a goal to decrease the mill rate and decrease the financial burden on our taxpayers this year.”

Sawicki concurred, saying I don’t think anyone is thinking to increase costs.”

Figuring out how to recoup some $194,000 owed to the town in police private duty overtime costs dominated much of the board’s discussion.

Sawicki called the amount absolutely ridiculous,” and said improvements to boost collection of bills from private contractors and vendors who hire police must be made.

The police department is responsible for billing and collecting the money, and when it comes in, the checks are sent over to the town. The town has a receivable” in its general fund, from which the police officers are paid, Drugonis said, and when the vendors pay up, the money is credited against the receivable.

However, the board said they have no idea how delinquent some of the collections are, whether they are 30, 60 or more than 90 days late, and said better coordination between the police and the finance department needs to happen.

The board plans to seek legal advice on whether the town can start charging interest on late bills.

The police department is not a collection agency…they have a few other things they have to do,” said Sawicki. Since the finance dept handles the books, I don’t have a problem with them taking over the job.”

Police Chief Paul Satkowski said his administration has made some improvements to boost collections, but said there’s always room for improvement.”

The bottom line on this is we need to know the procedure and it’s time we get away from the way it’s always been done, which has not always been the most efficient or practical way,” he said.

Drugonis said she’ll work with Thomas, the police administration and the town’s human resources director to ensure a better collection procedure.

We have to start looking at things more like a business,” she said

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