Budget Proposal Will Go Now to the Finance Committee (With Video)

The budget that Mayor Joe Jaskiewicz presented to the Montville Town Council on Wednesday has a proposed 1.48 percent increase overall. On the government side, the proposed increase is 2.5 percent, and the school side, the proposed increase is 1 percent.

The capital budget that Jaskiewicz presented is funded at $551,200, of which the Mohegan Tribe contributes $500,000. The Board of Education has asked for no capital spending for the coming year.

Jaskiewicz stressed that this budget depends on the state maintaining its fiscal obligations. He said the the state’s Office of Policy and Management has told the towns that the state will not cut funding to towns any more than it has.

“The town, as of now, is facing a $37,752 loss of revenue from the State of Connecticut, and a $31,177 loss from Education funding for a total loss of $68,929,” the mayor wrote in the letter accompanying the budget.

Jaskiewicz said that while no positions are being eliminated, hour for four positions, including two in the planning department, would be cut.

An assistant planner’s position would be cut from 40 hours to 20 hours, and an administrative assistant position in the planning department would be cut from 40 hours to 30. An administrative assistant position in the Parks & Recreation department would see a cut in hours from 40 to 20, and a secretary position in the Youth Services bureau would be cut from 25 hours to 20.

The positions that are cut from 40 to 20 would lose benefits, Jaskiewicz said.

Earlier in the year, Finance Director Terry Hart announced what looked like a Jaskiewicz ordered an emergency freeze on spending, and at the Town Council meeting on Monday, Hart told councilors that the shortfall was now projected at between $360,000 and $500,000.

On the capital budget side, Jaskiewicz said, the town is planning on buying large equipment, such as a fire truck, on a lease/purchase arrangement.

The council voted unanimously to accept the budget and the capital budget. Now, the documents will be taken up by the Finance Committee, said Council Chairman Donna Jacobson.

The finance committee will look closely at the budget, and might talk with department heads about their portions of the budget.

A public hearing on the education side of the budget will take place April 27 at 7 p.m. in the council chamber. A public hearing on the general government side of the budget will take place on April 28, at 7 p.m. in the council chamber.

Following those hearings, the council will accept, reject or amend the finance committee’s recommendations.

Joel Farrier, president of the teachers’ union, stood up during the public comment section of the meeting to encourage the council to accept the budget with no cuts to the education side.

The teachers’ union recently negotiated a contract, Farrier said, accepting a zero percent increase. A number of teachers will be laid off, Farrier said.

“We gave zero percent,” he said. “We’ve done our part to make this town better.”

Jon Leonard, a dispatcher and Montville resident, said that in his experience, leasing is more costly in the long run.

“We really need to look at what we’re buying for assets vs. what we’re doing for employees,” Leonard said. “We have an awful lot of fire trucks in town.”