March 09, 2005

Farrell Presents 2005-2006 Budget Message

Westport First Selectwoman Diane G. Farrell tonight presented her budget message to the Board of Finance. The text of her message:

Members of the Board of Finance, members of the RTM, fellow Westporters, it is my pleasure to present to you the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2005.

The Administration's proposed budget for fiscal year 2005-2006 is $50,298,177. In combination with the Board of Education request of $93,931,866, the Town of Westport proposed annual budget for the next fiscal year is $144,230,043, an overall increase of 5.8 percent.

The Town of Westport's municipal budget has increased by 3.67 percent, tracking area CPI's. (Northeast 3.6 percent and New York metro 3.8 percent respectively).

Once again, budget decisions hinged upon tough choices. As you know, the vast majority of our expenses in the short run are fixed, including contractual wage increases, fringe benefit costs, debt service and utilities.

Increases in electric and fuel rates are notable this year, as well as continued growth in debt service. For the first time since 2002, the town is contributing funds to the pension plan due to the market value of the funds. This action is the result of a three year rolling average of market experience.

Given recent improvements in market performance* the trend is likely to improve with next year's average.

Medical increases (15.1 percent) are still significant, but not as dramatic as last year (19.9 percent). Worker's compensation claims are lower. This is a direct reflection of the town's new safety program. Property and liability insurance has receded as a result of the safety program as well.

Determining the mill rate - and the ultimate cost of this year's budget to the taxpayer - will hinge significantly on the future of the real estate conveyance tax. The state legislature will be deciding whether to renew the conveyance tax during the current session. If the tax is renewed, conservative estimates suggest we would have approximately $1.1 million in additional revenue, which represents two tenths of a mill.

Once again, town departments have worked hard to hold the line on spending:

The Assessor's office is back on track. After a very tumultuous year, Bill Gaffhey, our new Assessor, has restored order to operations. Outstanding permits have been caught up, and the revaluation is under way. In order to insure a timely work flow, Bill is requesting a position be added for the purposes of permit coordination. Previously budgeted outsourced expenditures for such work have been eliminated.

The department is also requesting one of the Police Department retired patrol cars be permanently assigned to the office to aid in the inspection process.

The Building Department ably serves the public during what continues to be a building boom in Westport. Permit revenues have increased 20 percent, and the teardown effect grew by 43 percent (demolition permits).

Since the permit backlog was discovered last year, the Building Department has worked closely with the Assessor and Tax Collector offices. A computer link now allows for direct contact between the offices to assure that properties will be added to the tax roles on a timely basis.

Conservation Department operating and capital are nominal this year. In addition to their on¬going responsibilities, they will be focusing on the Sherwood Mill Pond working with the State of Connecticut Bureau of Aquaculture.

Earthplace continues to thrive. They are working toward greater fiscal independence. The Town of Westport contribution of $77,250 represents an annual 3 percent increase. It is once again gratifying to see they are reducing their dependence from endowment, drawing $35,000, as compared to $79,986 projected in the current fiscal year.

The Town Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) was once again completed in time for recognition by the State of Connecticut. The Finance Department expects to receive its fourth "Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting" this spring. Finance Director, Don Miklus, has worked diligently to address the collection of back taxes for non-assessed building permits.

Employee turnover has been significant in the Fire Department over the past few years. This has resulted in substantial savings in the salary area. Given the importance of proper training, the department has requested the addition of a training officer. We have made a tremendous investment in these individuals. It is prudent to insure that they are well prepared, as they will be serving the Town of Westport for many years to come.

The Health District will be seeing transition this year with the retirement of Director, Judy Nelson. Judy has been serving the towns of Westport and Weston for twenty years. The search for Judy's replacement is underway. In the meantime, the districts' on-going programs, including bio-terror response, community health, target Lyme disease, and mosquito/West Nile Virus continues to be addressed. Judy has been a wonderful leader in her field. She has been on the cutting edge of health issues, and has been an invaluable resource to her colleagues for many years.

The Human Services Department has seen stunning growth at the Senior Center reflecting the popularity of the new facility. This necessitates the addition of a part-time employee to assist with administration and programs. An effort to recover some of the cost will be realized by new or slightly increased fees.

To keep up with demands in social services, a part-time person has been requested to provide telephone relief for the present receptionist/assistant, while she undertakes additional administrative responsibilities.

The office of Information Technology will be replacing outdated computers department-wide. In addition, they are exploring the possibility of network bandwidth expansion to provide greater capacity and service to Westport residents. Nearly all regularly scheduled public meetings are now telecast.

The Westport Public Library continues to be the intellectual nerve center of Westport. This year, they have included a part-time technology support position. Unfortunately, we were unable to accede to the Library's request for a teenage librarian.

Maintaining a pay-as-you-go philosophy, the Parks and Recreation Department budget taxpayer subsidy will be reduced slightly from 13.47 percent to 12.52 percent next fiscal year. Debt service related to capital projects, including golf course improvements are factored into next year's fees.

The Personnel Department has done a very good job of implementing the safety program. This has resulted in savings found in worker's compensation and medical expenses.

Westport Emergency Services is one of the finest operations in the Town of Westport. They have requested an additional staff member to provide the kind of service necessary to continue their superb operations. An adjustment in billing projections (due to the additional personnel) will help to defray the expense.

In order to comply with state mandated emergency medical dispatch calls, the Police Department is also requesting an additional civilian dispatcher.

Significant changes will be taking place in the Planning & Zoning office next year. We were fortunate to have had Kathy Barnard with us for one additional year. Sadly, Kathy will be leaving us this summer. Most notably, next year's Capital and Non-Recurring Fund budget contains $50,000 for consultants to begin the update of the Town Plan of Conservation and Development for 2007. Required by State Statute, the plan must be refreshed every 10 years.

Public Works, as always, has many on-going projects, including sewer installation, culvert replacement, and a perennial favorite - paving. Guessing the snow budget is always a challenge, as evidenced by this year's experience.

An important highlight for the department will be the request for Geographic Information Systems. The Engineering Department is taking the lead in this initiative, coordinating between the Assessor, Conservation and Planning & Zoning Departments. The Building and Public Protection Departments will benefit, as well, as all will be able to seamlessly share critical land-use information.

The Norwalk Transit District continues to provide service to Westport residents with the able consultation of the Westport Transit District Board. The contribution level from the town is a 3 percent increase, which is consistent with prior years. Evaluation of route systems is constant. Presently, they are working on expanded service from elementary and middle schools to religious classes in the afternoon due to increased demand.

As mentioned previously, the Tax Collector's office has integrated with the Assessor and Building Department to insure a seamless flow of information to insure that taxes are billed and collected on a timely basis. The transfer to a new data collection agency has had its challenges, but appears to be performing well.

The Town Clerk's office continues to see record collections in conveyance tax, due to the ongoing housing boom. As a result of a retirement and anticipated slow-down of land recording documents, the overall budget this year will reflect a decrease. It should be noted that shortly after her retirement, Betty Bowes passed away. Betty had been a member of the department for nineteen and on-half years. She was a wonderful employee, who will be missed by friends and her extended Westport family.

There is poignancy to this year's budget address because we gather this evening on the day that we memorialize our dear friend, colleague and mentor Ned Dimes.

The passing of Ned Dimes in many ways is the end of an era. My earliest days in public service included Ned Dimes. He was chairman of the Board of Finance,

I was a PTA president at Coleytown Elementary School. I will never forget attending a special combined Board of Ed/Board of Finance meeting in 1992. I spoke passionately on behalf of a Board of Education initiative that was so important to me I said I had dreamt of Ned the night before. Ned blushed, the audience laughed and the story made the front page of the Westport News.

That night, Ned suggested I run for the Board of Finance. I did and was fortunate to serve with and sit next to him for four years.

We did not always see eye to eye - especially on Board of Education expenditures- but affection and respect remained no matter what the issue.

When Ned retired from the Board and I became First Selectwoman, we got together for lunch on a fairly frequent basis. I sought his counsel often - always enjoying the repartee. It was during those lunches especially, that he would regale me with stories of his life.

What a life! His career, his family, his boating and aviation adventures, his wit and wisdom, always wise, always prudent, Ned was someone who clearly found the best and most exciting avenues to pursue.

Among his life adventures was a deep devotion to town service. This was the most tangible public evidence of his Connecticut Yankee roots - that, and the Boston Red Sox. A year did not go by without some significant community contribution from Ned. He served in so many capacities. On building committees, the RTM, Board of Finance, P&Z. You name it. Ned had a hand in just about every good thing that happened in this town.

It is genuinely impossible to imagine this place without Ned. He has been part of the fabric of this community longer than most of us have lived here - more than 50 years. He has set a very high bar for community service. He will be sorely missed by family and friends.

He will be remembered each time we enter a public building or reflect on good investments made by the town. He was a man of many accomplishments with a good heart. We will miss him, think of him often and try, to best of our abilities, to follow his fine example of community commitment.