WESTPORT -- The Board of Finance held a discussion of preliminary selectman's budget figures, which include several new positions, during a work session on Wednesday evening. First Selectwoman Diane Farrell has proposed a preliminary 2005-06 budget of $50.4 million, which is a 3.9 percent increase over the current budget. Farrell's proposal does not include school costs. Her final budget proposal will be brought to the Board of Finance next month. The town's complete 2005-06 proposed budget, including school costs, is $144.3 million, which is a 5.9 percent increase over the current budget. Finance Director Donald Miklus said the budget as it stands would carry a tax rate of 21.7 mills, which would be a 1.1-mill increase. The mill rate would carry a $17,200 annual taxes on the average assessed home of $800,000. Farrell's proposed budget includes several new employees, including at the police and fire departments. Miklus said the new positions are a cost of about $188,000. Fire department officials are proposing a training officer position, which had been cut about a decade ago. Fire Chief Denis McCarthy said at that time there was a stable, experienced work force. "We don't have the same dynamic today," he said. There was a 25 percent turnover in the department with new people in the command positions, including his own, and 25 percent new firefighters, he said. "There is a demand for training," he said. "We are doing it daily." There are firefighters at the beach practicing cold-water training and the deputy chief is constantly looking for homes that are slated to be torn down that could be used for training, McCarthy said. The deputy chief is typically in charge of the department's training, he said, but he has a lot of other tasks on his plate including hydrating many areas of town. The police department is also asking for two new positions in its proposed budget. Police Chief Al Fiore told the finance board that he had proposed to add one additional dispatcher. Having a civilian dispatcher would allow an officer to go on the street and would also help reduce overtime costs, he said. Deputy Police Chief David Heinmiller said an additional paid employee is also needed for Emergency Medical Services, which relies on volunteers. The corps has had four paid employees since it started in 1979 despite the increases in demands, he said. The paid employees have to manage the volunteers and help with second calls, he said, but they also have to do administrative functions and run training sessions. "We're stretching the employees," he said. The fifth person would help maintain the volunteer roster, cover shifts, provide public programs, serve as a liaison with the American Heart Association and work at special events. Jennifer Connic covers Westport and Weston. She can be reached at (203) 354-1043 or at westport@thehour.com.

The Hour © Copyright 2003