Deep River’s proposed $16,308,341 town and schools budget for 2016-’17 calls for a spending increase of $559,711 or 3.55 percent and, combined with a lowered Grand List, would result in a tax rate increase of one mill or 3.8 percent.

Last year’s revaluation found that property in town had generally decreased in value, meaning that keeping spending at a 2015-’16 baseline would result in 0.51 mill increase. In this proposed budget, which goes to public hearing on Tuesday, May 3, 0.49 of the mill rate increase is attributable to new spending.

The Courier spoke with the late First Selectman Dick Smith about the budget last week before his March 25 passing.

According Smith, 80 percent of the total budget increase or $473,092 is from increases in schools spending—$385,838 in increases to Regional District #4 and $87,254 in increases at Deep River Elementary School.

On the general government side of the budget, the Resident Trooper line is set to increase by $70,000 (the town presently pays 85 percent of all costs for a resident trooper, which will increase to 100 percent) and town employee salaries increased by $20,756.

Other town budget reductions, and a budget surplus of $135,000, offset town spending increases.

“A lot of time and effort goes into the budget every year. We would ideally like to have no increase at all,” said Smith. “However, there are increases we have to put into the budget, such as the costs for paramedics, the increase in the resident trooper costs, and others. We are pretty much flat with our governmental budget, while at the same time Deep River does a lot of capital projects and maintains and improves our buildings and infrastructure.”

He added, “When I put together the budget I am always looking five years into the future. There is a lot of planning that goes into maintaining cost savings and keeping cost low, we do the best we can with the budget each year.”

If this draft budget passes as proposed, town officials expect 988 properties to see a tax decrease and 1,075 to see a tax increase.

A master list of all properties in town has been prepared by Smith and Deep River Tax Assessor Robin O’Loughlin. This list provides the financial impact on residents and businesses and is available at Town Hall, by calling 860-526-6020, or emailing selectman@deepriverct.us.

“I usually get over 200 phone calls asking questions about how this will impact individuals, so we have created this list to help explain those changes to residents if they have specific questions,” said Smith.

A public hearing on the budget will be held on Tuesday, May 3 at the town hall at 7:30 p.m. and the annual Town Meeting and vote for the budget will be held on Monday, May 16, at the Town Hall, at 7:30 p.m.