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04/12/2016 03:45 PMFollowing the annual town budget meeting on April 5, the town moved to send the proposed budget to referendum on Tuesday, April 19. The proposed 2016-2017 budget includes a 4.17 percent, or $3.8 million, increase, bringing the total budget number to $94,485,581.
The proposed $28,372,576 Board of Selectman budget for the upcoming fiscal year reflects a 2.5 percent increase in the town operating budget. The $58,656,791 Board of Education (BOE) budget came in with 1.99 percent spending increase.
This proposed budget also includes a significant hike in debt service. With a 35.42 percent increase from last year, the debt service is budgeted at $7,456,214. A majority of the increase can be attributed to the new $92 million Guilford High School that was completed in fall 2015.
A small crowd attended the annual budget meeting at the Greene Community Center to hear residents speak in favor or against the budget. Board of Finance (BOF) Chair Matthew Hoey said he was very pleased with the budget, and particularly the handling of the debt service.
“We have significantly mitigated the anticipated increases around debt service for the high school,” he said.
Hoey said he was glad town departments and officials were able to work together throughout this budget process.
“This budget is a well-crafted, bi-partisan effort on the part of the Board of Education, the Board of Selectmen, and the Board of Finance to bring to you, the voters, a responsible budget,” he said.
Some residents were still displeased with the increases, including Nancy Conover, a longtime resident who is retired. She expressed concerns over the projected 2.8 percent increase in the mill rate.
“The mill rate last year went up three percent and this year 2.8” percent, she said. “That is 5.8 percent in two years. That is going to be a lot out of our pockets and we are not going to be getting any increase in salary.”
First Selectman Joe Mazza said he hears residents’ concerns and said the town does its best to avoid significant tax increases.
“We get very little funding from the State of Connecticut,” he said. “The state has been cutting municipal financing each year, but we still have to provide the services. It cost a lot to run the town and we take that very seriously. We do the best we can and we provide the best budgets that we can.”
Following the meeting, the budget was officially put forward to referendum. The budget referendum is scheduled for Tuesday, April 19 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at various polling locations. More information on polling locations can be found at www.ci.guilford.ct.us/registrar-voters.htm.