A 2.89 percent increase to the mill rate is on the horizon in North Branford after the Town Council cut $1 million in requested schools spending from the proposed town budget on April 6. However most residential property owner will likely see a decrease in taxes next year, based on revaluation notices which assessed many properties lower on the 2015 grand list. Residents should multiply the new 2015 assessed value (mailed in late fall 2015) to the 2016-17 mill rate of 31.98 mills; and most residential properties will find they will have a tax decrease, according to Town Finance Director Anthony Esposito.

The newly revised town budget with a bottom line of $50.99 million will be formally recommended by the Town Council with vote at the Tuesday, April 19 Town Council meeting, then sent to a town-wide budget question referendum vote set for May 10.

The Town Council's cuts drastically reduced a proposed seven percent mill rate increase that would have heavily hit property owners. The revised mill increase of 2.89 percent brings the new mill rate to 31.98 mills.

Instead of giving the Board of Education (BOE) its requested $1.4 million in additional money next year; the council voted to increase the 2016-17 schools budget by just $300,000. In addition, the council agreed that additional state-rendered Special Education Excess Funding, expected to be $165,000 distributed to the town in May 2016, will be allocated to directly to the BOE; creating a total budget allocation of $465,000 for schools to work with. By state statute, the Town Council has no decision-making power over where the BOE will cut in order to revise its budget down.

The Town Council axed $1 million from the requested schools budget and found some additional savings on the town side during last night's first and final budget revision workshop; following the April 5 public hearing on the budget (see public hearing news here ). The council had an additional three workshop dates set; which have now been cancelled. Last night's council budget decision arrived after about two and half hours of deliberation, said Town Manager Michael Paulhus.  Input from the April 5 public hearing did come into the council's discussion, such as Deputy Mayor Joseph Faughnan reiterating a resident's concerns about rising expenses already fraying away her $1200 fixed monthly pension, said Paulhus.

The education cut also goes a long way toward balancing a huge problem facing the Town Council from the start of budget season: a Grand List revenue loss of $1 million next year, due to downward trending property revaluations. The town also needs to cover an additional $248,600 in debt spending next year; as the first payment of a new $5 million bonding issue taken on in 2015 for road infrastructure improvements.

Additional cuts the Town Council made last night hit police overtime and the Public Works salt supply. The council found a one-time $14,000 reduction in fees by switching to MedCom from CMED emergency communications, reduced contingency funds by $25,000 and reduced the funding for the self-insurance risk corridor.  A staffing request for a Public Works supervisor was met halfway with the council deciding to hire a supervisor January 1, 2017 to cut the $58,000 salary expense in half.

Final numbers for the 2016-17 Town Budget were still being finalized today and will go before the Town Council on April 19; at which time the council will vote to send its recommended budget to the town wide annual budget referendum vote set for May 10.

Reporters Note: This article originally reported the new budget would equal a 2.98% tax increase and has been updated to reflect the 2.89 percent increase is to the mill rate.