EL Voters To Consider 5% Budget Hike

By Karin Crompton ,
The Day published on 5/3/2007 in Home »Region »Region News

East Lyme — Voters will decide whether to approve a 5 percent increase to the budget at a town meeting later this month. The budget reflects increases to capital improvement, public safety and emergency departments.

The annual town meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. on May 14 in the high school auditorium.

There is a chance, however, that the matter goes to a referendum vote; at least two residents have already taken out paperwork for a referendum and would need to gather 500 signatures to send the vote to referendum.

The proposed 2008 budget, which includes education, is $60.2 million; of that, the proposed school board budget is $38.6 million. The fiscal year 2007 budget, town and education, is $57.3 million.

The town has projected state revenue of about $9.6 million, an increase of about $430,000, according to finance board chairman Sharon Hansen.

Early projections put the tax rate about 18.5 mills with this budget, though the finance board won't set the rate until after a budget is passed. First Selectman Beth Hogan said the town also doesn't know yet what the revenue from the revaluation is.

Increases to the proposed budget include:

•The town's capital improvement plan, up $218,000. Hansen said the increase is intended to make up for several lean years in funding the capital accounts. Projects include putting a turn lane in from Route 161 onto Roxbury Road, updating the Plan of Development, repairs to the salt shed and sidewalk improvements.

•The police department, increase of $134,346. Hansen said the department is looking to hire more staff for the summer because it has more events happening.

•Niantic Fire Department ($34,442), Flanders Fire Department ($14,595); fire marshal/emergency management ($19,133).

•Commission on Aging, an increase of $12,251. If approved, the commission will see an increase of $35,297 over two years. Hansen said the increase this year is because the department hopes to hire a part-time employee to help in the mornings.

Also, the proposed budget for the youth services department is decreasing by $43,545. The department this year became a town department instead of a nonprofit agency. Hansen said the reductions reflect some overlap in coverage that were able to be cut when the organization became a town department.

k.crompton@theday.com

East Lyme