GOSHEN BOARD OF FINANCE
PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING
MAY 12, 2010
Chairman Allan D. Walker called the Public Hearing to order at 7:30 P.M.
There were 15 Tax Payers of the Town present. Included in that number were five Board of Finance members and Selectmen Robert Valentine and Thomas Breakell.
Made available to the public was the Town of Goshen General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2011 and for informational purposes only, Town of Goshen General Fund Budget Departmental Budget Detail for Fiscal Year ending 6/30/2011 Noting that the purpose of the detailed by Departmental is to give detail as to where the money is being appropriated.
Chairman Allan Walker commended all the Departments Commissions and Town employees for their hard work on their budget spend and the efforts made to control spending of the budgeted dollars. Noted was the graph detailing the Region 6 and Town of Goshen budget increases over the past seventeen years. In comparing the 06/07 expenditures to the proposed 10/11 budget, it was noted that the Town Budget, including capital, is approximately $7,000.00 less than the 06/07 budget. As expected, due to the state of the economy, there was a minimal increase in the 10/1/2009 Town Grand List. Although there was no increase in the Region 6 Budget, their expected income went down which adds to the Town Budget increase and an increase in the number of students. Noted was the use of $648,874.00 of Fund Balance to offset budgeted
expenditures in order to hold the current mil rate for 09/10. The Town should have a reasonable good fund balance at end of the 09/10 fiscal year and it is expected at this time that some of fund balance will be used along with a minimal increase in the mil rate to cover the 2010/2011 proposed budget.
The Hearing was opened to question and input from the Tax Payers. Noted by the Chair under the Departmental Detailed Budget was the correction made to the Public Works line item for Highway Employees. The proposed wage increase is $8,500.00 not the $28,267.00 as previously shown.
Questions – Henrietta Horvay questioned the increase in the Employee Benefits #1,what is the employee contribution and #2, has there been an increase in the employee deductable? It was stated no, the employees do not contribute to their health insurance and yes, the employee deductibles have increases. Questioned was the rate paid for a single person vs. paid for a family noting that the benefits paid are part of the total employee benefit package. Robert Valentine noted the current 12 1/2% insurance increases and the action taken to change the
PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING 5/12/2010
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policy to increase the employee co-pay on both Doctor visits and prescriptions, thus bringing the insurance health increase down to 8 ½%. In addressing the total compensation Robert Valentine noted the wages being paid to the employees and the fact they are not paid exorbitantly high for the work that they are doing. Noted were the cuts in staff hours and the fact that the staff is doing more with less compensation. There is no reduction in the amount of services being provided to the people of the Town and believes this is attributed to the hard work of the Town Employees.
Variation in the % of wage increases for Town Employees and Elected Officials. Question #3- Are all the Town Employee and Elected Officials being given raises? It was noted that with the exception of the Town Treasurer (who declined the proposed increase), the Elected Officials received 2 ½% increase. The Town Employees received a salary increase based on the updated Paul Andrews guidelines and employee evaluation process. The increases ranged from 2 % to as high as 6%.
Question-Was consideration given to wage increase for election workers? Noted was the action taken several years ago by the Board to increase the wages for the election worker. No action had been taken under the proposed budget to increase the election official wages. Allan Walker noted that if review of their current wages shows that they are not comparable to what is currently being paid by other area towns that the Board will take any wage increase into consideration. Clarification of the term all employees vs. most employees was made.
Robert Valentine addressed the Building Official Salary and the fact that it is based on a contractual basis with a base salary of $20,000.00 and 25% of Building Permit Fees.
Administration Wages: Robert Valentine reported that although no wage increase is shown for administrative wages, wage increases were factored into the budget for the administrative employees. No increase in the line item for administrate wages is based on the fact to be able to come in with a no increase budget, cuts were made in the administrative staff hours making it possible to keep the 2009/2010 administrative wages line item the same for 2010/1011.
Question-What Town population number was used by the Torrington Area Health on which to base the Towns appropriation of $15,278.00. Said population is based on the State Department of Public Health data.
News Letter- Does the reduction in the News Letter line item mean a reduction in the number of issues published? It was noted that the news Letter line item includes the Town web-site management and there has been a reduction in the number of hours required to manage the website. Discussed briefly was the use of advertising in the Town News Letter.
GOSHEN BOARD OF FINANCE
PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING 5/12/2010
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Probate Court Expense- Said budget dollars is based on the Probate Judge request. Under State Statutes what ever the Judge spends, must be reimbursed by the Towns.
There were no other questions on the Proposed 2010/2011 Town Budget.
Capital Expenditures – It is expected that the 2010/2011 budgeted dollars for Capital Items will be spent. It was noted that some of the budgeted capital line items are items that have been put on hold for some time. Capital Items noted, Public Works Small Dump Truck, Upgrade to the Telephone System which incorporates the Town Hall, Fire House and Public Works Dept.
Under comments on the Budget, First Selectman Robert Valentine again noted the excellent job that was down by Town Employees and Department Heads in putting together a budget for 2010/2011 that is $47,000.00 under the current budget. Knowing the tight dollar situation, the employees were commended for doing more work for fewer hours while continuing to look for ways to be more efficient. Robert Valentine noted however that the Town cannot continue to cut down further. Addressed were cuts that were made in Public Works, Library and other line items that cannot continue to be made. Financial pressures increase for Fuel/Heating costs, Health and Public Works Road Material. Unless the T own is willing to take less services it is felt that this is the last year that many expenses will be able to be held down.
It was noted that Revenue projections were made on the best information available. Chairman Allan Walker noted that the Finance Board after the Town meeting would meet to determine the mil rate and the use of Fund Balance to off set the budgeted expenditures.
Region 6 Well Issue-Region 6 was required by the State Department of Public Health to dig a second well at all three of the Region 6 Grammar Schools. The well project has been completed at Warren and Goshen and is in the process of being done in Goshen. The cost for the wells is in the six to seven hundred thousand dollars range with 35% reimbursement from the State.
There were no other questions or comments to come before the Public Hearing. The Town Budget Meeting will be held on May 26, 2010 at 8:00 P.M. The Hearing adjourned at 8:10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
GOSHEN BOARD OF FINANCE
Joan M. Lang, Board Clerk
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