Published on 4/19/2007 in TheDay.com
By Fay Abrahamsson

There were six questions posed to Guilford voters last Tuesday, one of which was whether to approve the combined town and school budget. Voters responded by saying “yes” to the budget and two bonding referendum questions, but voted “no” to the remaining three questions.

Voters approved the town's budget of $71.3 million that includes the town's operating budget of $20.9 million, the education budget of $45.6 million, and debt service of $4.8 million. They also approved the purchase of a heavy rescue truck for the fire department, and money for school improvements. By a vote of 1,510 “yes” to 1,261 “no,” the budget easily passed.

Denied were three referendum questions totaling $1.6 million. They included spending $275,000 for two vehicles for the town's Department of Public Works, $600,000 for road work on Flag Marsh Road, and almost $800,000 to install artificial turf at the large field at Guilford High School.

“I am generally pleased that the budget passed,” said First Selectman Carl Balestracci. “We worked hard to keep it lean.”

Balestracci noted that $1.6 million of the $1.8 million increase in the town's budget was the result of non-discretionary increases in costs such as contract agreements and other items that can't be cut.

For the bonding issues that did not pass, Balestracci said they would either try again next year or go to “plan B.”

Repairs on Flag Marsh Road may have to wait until another time.

“We will try again next year to work on these old roads,” he said.

Balestracci feels that the town would benefit from a replacement program of old public works department vehicles.

“Instead of replacing two trucks, we can see if the department has any money left over by the end of this year to purchase one truck,” he said.

Balestracci noted that the big dump trucks that also remove snow are used by the department for just about everything. They are aged vehicles with many more than 100,000 miles, said Balestracci.

The two referendum questions that did pass included spending $500,000 for a heavy rescue truck for the fire department, and almost $2.6 million in facilities improvements at the high school, Elisabeth Adams Middle School, Melissa Jones Elementary School, and Calvin Leete Elementary School. Results of those two questions included a close vote for the rescue truck at 1,397 “yes” to 1,326 “no,” and 1,644 votes in favor of the school repairs to 1,129 saying “no.”

It was not a high turnout of voters as only 18 percent of those registered came to the polls, although town clerk Janice Teft said 500 more people voted this year at the referendum than last year.

Matthew Hoey, chairman of the Board of Finance, said that if the budget had passed, he projected an increase in the town's mill rate of 1.15 points, a 4.99 percent increase. The town's current mill rate is 23.16; the increase will bring it to a projected 24.31. The Board of Finance will set the mill rate at an upcoming meeting.