Last week, North Branford's Town Council made changes to reduce the town's proposed annual budget to a $54.1 million bottom line with a 1.56 percent tax increase to property owners. A few more dollar-driven questions will be answered on Tues. April 16 during the regular Town Council meeting (7 p.m. at Town Hall), when the council also plans to finalize and recommend a 2019-20 Town budget for the annual referendum question vote in May. The Town's fiscal year runs July 1 – June 30.

As it stands, a 1.56 percent tax increase equals a mill rate increase of 0.52 mills, which would bring North Branford's mill rate up from 33.39 to 33.91, Town Finance Director Anthony Esposito told Zip06/The Sound.

He also noted the $54.1 million budget calls for a $1.86 million annual spending increase, up 3.54 percent over last year's spending; but good 2018 Grand List growth, up 1.29 percent, helps mitigate the tax payers' share of budget revenue to be generated.

"The spending is up 3.54 percent; but because of the Grand List growth, tax payers are only seeing a 1.56 increase," said Esposito.

As reported to by the Assessor's Office to the Town Council in February, the Town's 2018 net taxable grand list increased by $15,617,876. About 60 percent of that increase was due to the town's re-examination of significant accounts including Southern Connecticut Gas Corp., Ochenskoski Towers LLC, United Illuminating, Wallingford Electric, Eversource Energy and SBA Properites, Inc.

Another area which impacts the budget annually is the town's fixed-cost debt service (obligations for bonded projects). Debt service is on a downward trend, Esposito said. Next year, the town will pay out $3,891,338 for debt service, down 4.40 percent or $179,038 over 2018-19.

Town Council's Budget Process

North Branford's Town Council also serves as the Town's Finance Board. Cancelling budget deliberation meetings scheduled for April 3 and April 9, the council convened April 4 to make adjustments to a proposed $55.2 million budget, which was presented April 2 at a public hearing covened by the council. On April 2, Town Manager Mike Paulhus presented an overview of the $15.6 million requested town government budget (up 1.12 percent annually); and Superintendent of Schools Scott Schoonmaker presented the $32.4 million requested schools budget (up 2.44 percent).

During budget deliberations on April 4, the Town Council dialed back Paulhus' proposed one-time appropriation of $2.05 million from the General Fund balance for capital improvements. Instead, the council approved appropriating $937,000 from the General Fund balance, and specified where the money would be targeted (targeted items appear in this story). 

As viewed on Totoket TV's Facebook live-stream video of the April 4 Town Council budget deliberations, a good number of the audience represented North Branford's volunteer Fire Department. The firefighters were there to seek clarification on whether next year's budget will include a 0.55 cent multiplier to their pension fund. Earlier this year, after the Fire Commission approved recommending a multiplier of one dollar, the Town Council formed a commission/council subcommittee to review the request and other finance-related fire department questions, such as stipends. Those discussions are still underway. On April 4, after discussion among the council and some input from audience members, the council voted unanimously to appropriate $7,000 for the fund. Councilman Joseph Faughnan (D) summarized the decision for the audience, saying, to be "crystal clear," the council had approved an allocation of $7,000 so that the .55 cent multiplier begins with the new fiscal year.

Another council discussion was fueled by Deputy Mayor Rose Marie Angeloni's (R) motion for an $11,000 increase in the police commission's recommend $99,000 starting for the brand-new Deputy Chief position. The motion was based on past service of the person who will be hired as the town's Deputy Chief, said Angeloni. Council member George Miller (D) said he would vote against the increase not because he felt the salary was undeserving; instead, he felt it was "bad management" to have a "one-to-one-to-one" management relationship (Chief, Deputy Chief, Lieutenant).  Mayor Michael Doody (R) commented it's standard with many departments. Miller replied he knew of many departments which don't follow that standard. Council member Bob Viglione (R) abstained from the vote.  Following that, the council also voted 7-2 to increase the position's pension and social security by $5,575, with Miller and Viglione dissenting.

Other Positions Added, Discussed

With state building code changes increasing the number of inspections required and  time needed to complete plan reviews, the council supported councilman Al Rose's (R) motion to add a part-time Building Official position to assist the current Building Official, Tom Cowell.  A 19-hour position will be funded at $39,672  ($40 an hour). The council also approved a $575 increase for ancillary costs for the position. Although it won't be considered for this budget deliberation, the council also discussed an idea, raised by Faughnan, to increase building inspection/permit fees to help to offset some of the cost of the new part-time official. Answering a question from the council, Cowell said the last increase was about three or four years ago. He was asked to bring forward a fee increase proposal to the council in the future.

The council approved adding a "Highway One" position (52.2 hours per week) to the Public Works staff at $57,013; with an additional $20,352 for the position's pension/social security costs.

The council also unanimously supported Angeloni's motion giving the same rate of pay, at a slight increase to $15 per hour, to the town's libraries and Parks and Recreation custodians. Parks and Rec custodians currently earn $14.20 an hour; library custodians earn $14.90 per hour.

"Both are town employees getting two different rates of pay. I personally don't think it's fair," said Angeloni.

She noted the $15 per hour rate will also better-position the town if the state goes up to a $15 per hour minimum wage. The total  cost for the allocation across both departments adds up to $958.

Support for Schools

On April 4, mainly with monies from the General Fund balance, the council voted unanimously to restore some items requested by the Board of Education (BOE). The council approved $25,000 for a Phase II building feasibility study of North Branford High School (NHBS). It also approved and allocating $112,000 (to be offset by future rental funds) for North Branford auditorium brick sealing and pointing repair (in addition to $48,000 already budgeted).  The council approved allocating $50,000 for 10 to 11 unit ventilators, with the majority to be installed at Totoket Valley Elementary School (TVES) and one to two at NBHS. Also, the council voted to allocate $25,000 in addition to $90,000 earmarked for future state municipal aid reimbursement, in order to be in a fiscal position to begin repair and/or replacement of an elevator at NBHS.

Other capital expenditures the council approved, to be funded by monies from the General Fund balance, include allocating $150,000  to Public Works for the first year of a three-year lease payment on a $400,000  truck. The council also approved $250,000 for Public Works to purchase, outright, a "snow-fighter" truck.  The council increased the Fire Department's equipment reserve fund by $200,000 and allocated $100,000 to Communications for a new simulcast system transmitter site. The police department was allocated $55,000 for a new vehicle, bringing the department's total to be purchased with 2019-20 budgeted monies up to two vehicles.

Other Spending Changes

The council allocated $5,000 to paint the town-owned Augur House and $20,000 to roof the building.  It increased Public Works overtime by $9,146 and ancillary spending by $12,065. The council also increased the Public Works equipment maintenance budget by $20,000.

The council also made a number of cuts to various areas of the budget, including a $50,000  decrease to the Ambulance account (which will keep funding the same as 2018-19, at $150,000);  a $10,000 decrease to police overtime; a $5,000 cut to police professional development programming; a $25,000 cut to Town Attorney litigation costs, and a decrease of $6,075 (station wear) for the fire department.  The council also removed a $4,750 Grant Writing line item from Economic Development Commission's budget.

Most notably, the council eliminated $104,000 for LED conversion projects at five buildings: the town's two libraries, NBIS, Jerome Harrison School and the North Branford Auditorium. The council felt more details and savings return information is needed.

Some housekeeping to the budget also included removing $12,000 in capital for split rail fencing to be installed at Northford Park, due to the cost being expensed this fiscal year, with installation set to take place beginning May 31.

Questions to be Answered April 16

One town employee question the council will need to answer on April 16 is whether to extend the current Economic Development Coordinator's (EDC) part-time hours from 19 to 25. On April 4, a motion by Angeloni to deny the 25-hour request raised some debate. Adding the six hours creates a new expense of $7,830; but also puts the position above 20 hours which means the town would have to offer benefits, a new cost for the position, as noted by Mayor Michael Doody (R).

Councilwoman Marie Diamond (D) said she was "appalled" the council would consider denying the request. She said she was impressed by the progress and impact made by EDC Roger Salway, who filled the new Town position in the spring of 2018. Diamond said Salway has been working to retain and attract businesses in town, pursue grant opportunities, and rev up the town's profile with a Sunflower Project and Destination North Branford campaign.

Miller also supported the increase; noting when the position was approved at 19 hours by the council last year, the discussion included increasing hours in the future, if the position produced results.

"He's doing a good job for us," said Miller. "He's the only person we're going to have who reaches out to the manufacturing and the industrial base. I think it's a mistake, and small potatoes, against what this is going to bring... he has not only been here for 19 hours [a week], but he's produced dramatically; and the road map of the next year has been equally forward-thinking."

Councilman Rose said it was important to able to quantify results and asked to have a summary prepared for the April 16 meeting showing "...what did he bring and what did he save... what he's actually brought the town, other than big ideas."

The council also discussed finding out if Salway, who is retired from corporate careers and also headed his own international company, would make use of benefits offered by the town.

The council also had some other unresolved budget issues it plans to clear up on April 16. After a discussion regarding $15,000 budgeted to paint the exterior of North Branford Hall(1675 Foxon Road), the new home to Totoket TV; the council asked Public Works Director Fran Merola to also assess roof repair expenses for the building, and bring those costs back to the April 16 meeting.

The council also directed Paulhus to gather more details on whether the Town is contractually obligated to pay an additional $56,700 next year to the town-contracted waste hauler, John's Refuse & Recycling (Northford). As Paulhus had discussed with the council earlier this year, where haulers once were able to earn $12 per ton of recycling material; they now instead must pay $95 a ton for recyling disposal. The $56,700 amount requested by the hauler covers 50 percent of the increased cost of recycling disposal next year. The Town Attorney has been reviewing the town's contractual obligation in the matter. The town is currently in the first year of two, 2-year extensions (total four years) to a five-year contract with the hauler.