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04/30/2019 03:00 PMIf the Region 4 budget proposal pases on Tuesday, May 7, Chester voters will be presented with a $14,379,720 2019-’20 town and schools spending plan, an increase of $657,718 or 4.79 percent. That increase is largely driven by the proposed Region 4 budget, which for Chester would increase $388,003 or 8.7 percent.
Interested voters can learn more about the spending proposal at a town budget hearing scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, the day after the Region 4 budget referendum, at Town Hall. The budget goes to Town Meeting vote on Wednesday, May 29 at Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.
Under the current proposal, the anticipated mill rate impact is between 1.68 and 1.75, a more than six percent increase. Town spending would rise $64,287 or 1.4 percent to $4,653,159, and Chester Elementary School spending would rise $205,428 or 4.4 percent to $4,868,977. Region 4 spending would land at $4,857,584.
“Three major factors attribute to this increase, including the fact that this is the first year for the schools to be in a new union contract for teachers and it is a step raise year for teacher salaries; second, the health insurance for the Region 4 School District is up 15 percent (the health insurance premium was shopped around and this was the lowest found); and thirdly, Chester’s Average Daily Membership (ADM) changed, which is a major contributing factor,” said First Selectman Lauren Gister.
“Chester will bear a higher percentage of the ADM used to cover regionally shared expenses. We have had the benefit of cost savings over the past few years for education, because of smaller student population in Chester and expected some increase as the population leveled off this year, however, this unexpectedly large increase will have a significant effect on this year’s budget,” she continued.
Chester’s town budget hearing is scheduled for May 8, the day after the Region 4 budget referendum.
“I am concerned that the referendum will be over and the Region 4 Budget approved or not approved, before there is a chance to fully explain to the taxpayers of Chester how the different pieces of our budget fit together and what a huge part the Region 4 budget represents to the Chester budget,” Gister said. “Many hours are dedicated by the Board of Selectman, Board of Finance, and the Chester Region 4 and Supervision Board of Education to ensure that we support critical services, maintain infrastructure, and provide the best possible education to our children. Everyone works very hard and we all do the best we can.”
On the town side, a factor driving the increase in the proposed budget is the increase in monies put in for the tree removal in town. Last year’s tree budget had a line item of $40,000 and the 2019-’20 proposed budget has that line bumped up to $80,000, because there is so much tree work that needs to be done in town due to disease, damage from past droughts, and age.
“The impact and cost of the past three years of gypsy moth and emerald ash borer damage to our oak and ash trees in town is substantial and taking down these dead trees is a high priority for the safety of our residents,” said Gister. “This work comes at a cost. We need to keep our residents safe and part of that is making sure that the dead and dying trees are removed, so they do not become a safety concern especially during storms.
“I want to ensure that our residents make decisions about the town’s budget with knowledge, so it is important to me to make sure that everyone is aware of what the budget drivers are and what they mean for the town,” said Gister. “I want everyone to come out and vote because this affects every taxpayer in town.”