Berlin finance board looks at over $1 million in budget cuts after referendum failure

BERLIN – The finance board discussed over $1 million in cuts to capital projects and town items included in the $45.6-million general government funding that was rejected by voters last week.

“There was an overwhelming vote against it,” said Sal Bordonaro, member of the finance committee.

According to the town Registrar of Voters, residents voted primarily “no” in all five districts for the general government budget as well as the school budget with a consensus from the advisory questions that both budgets were “too high.

By charter, the finance board must revise the budget 10 days after the referendum. The council has five days to approve, reject or reduce the finance board budget before sending it to a second referendum.

The referendum is scheduled for Tuesday, May 22.

The finance board met recently to discuss initial cuts to get the budget down to the range of a one mill increase, previously requested by the mayor, rather than the 1.6 proposed increase.

“I do think we need to respect the people that came out to vote,” said Gerry Paradis, finance board member. “I think we need to have a significant cut.”

Items on the chopping block include; a police vehicle, police computer replacements, athletic cages at the high school, exercise equipment replacement for the community center, tables and chairs at the senior center, safety loads, plumbing and mason work in town and other town and school projects. Other considerations include reductions in technology, overtime budgets, pool cars, service vans and roof repairs.

Over $50,000 in added part-time positions, previously removed in the Town Manager budget, was removed by the finance board.

Town Manager Jack Healy said there were several priorities and regulated items that cannot be eliminated or reduced.

“The trucks – that’s a safety issue,” he said referring to the highway vehicle replacements that the finance board agreed to lease.

The $43.9-million school budget was left untouched.

“I think we cut the town sufficiently enough,” said Sam Lomaglio, chairman of the finance board.

Brian Benigni, Superintendent of Berlin schools, recently expressed concern with any further school cuts.

““I thought we made drastic cuts already,” he said.

Reductions included two teachers at the high school and one teacher at the elementary school, as well as the elimination of an elementary school assistant principal.

Before the budget was sent to a vote, members of the Board of Education were able to find nearly $1 million in employee health insurance savings to bring the school budget from a 4.3 percent increase over last year to 1.99 percent.

The finance board revisions, keeping the school budget the same, will be an approximate 1.2 mill increase year-over-year, or a $196 tax increase on an average valued home, $250,000. The previous proposal reflected a $279 impact on an average valued home, $250,000. The mill rate would have been 33.21, a 1.6 mill increase from the present year.

The town council will hold a regular meeting Tuesday, May 1, at 7 p.m., at Town Hall. The finance board will hold a special meeting the next day, Wednesday, May 2, at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, to continue budget discussions.

akus@record-journal.com
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Twitter: @KusReporter

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