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3% Budget Increase Goes to Deep River Voters

Deep River voters will be asked to weigh in on a combined town and schools budget of $15,748,630, which is up $470,743 or 3.08 percent over last year’s budget. The vote to pass this budget will be taken at Town Meeting on Monday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall auditorium.

The town is seeking an increase of $137,292 or 3.2 percent to $4,310,192. Proposed schools spending is up $259,451 or 2.3 percent to $11,338,938. Of that, Deep River Elementary School would see an $8,000 or 0.1 percent increase to $5,484,500 and Deep River’s Region 4 share would rise $251,451 or 4.49 percent to $5,854,43. Bonding would rise from $25,500 to $99,500 or 290 percent (increases cover revaluation and Plattwood Park projects).

With a resultant four-tenths of mill increase in town, First Selectman Dick Smith and Board of Finance Chairman John Bauer are pleased with the proposed budget’s numbers.

“You know it is always our goal to have no increase, which we have been able to do nine out of the past 26 years, but sometimes you just can’t avoid an increase,” said Smith.

Approximately 20 residents attended a May 5 budget public hearing at which Smith explained that a four-tenths of a mill increase means that taxes for the majority of property owners in town would go up approximately $50.

“Taxes for Walgreens will increase $900, just to give you an example of how this effects businesses,” said Smith.

“We have similar goals each year, which is to have a balanced budget that makes fiscal sense, and I think we have achieved that again this year,” said Bauer. “We try to be as conservative as we can be on the revenue side and realistic on expenditures.”

Superintendent of Schools Ruth Levy was on hand to answer questions about the Deep River Elementary School Board of Education budget. She noted that there are no staff requests in the budget and no additional items.