Saturday, November 8, 2008 5:51 AM EST
By Abbe Smith, Register Staff
WEST HAVEN — For the third time since May, taxpayers Friday night rejected the budget proposed by the Allingtown Fire Commission, a move Fire Chief Peter Massaro recently warned will have dire consequences for the department.
The proposed $4.6 million budget, which failed by a vote of 45-90, included a tax increase of 1.25 mills, which is less than the 1.75 mill-increase originally proposed and twice rejected earlier this year. The current tax rate in Allingtown is 6 mills, which gets added to the city’s tax rate.
The meeting included heated discussion among residents who are tired of tax increases and were hoping the department would make more cuts to make up for financial woes plaguing the district.
Resident Walter Stelkovis told the commission he worked until he was 80 years old and made plenty of sacrifices over the years including serving in the military.
“I haven’t had any handouts lately. You fellows have to look and see where you can cut without killing yourself. You don’t have to bleed,” he said.
Heather Konieczka said she works a full-time job and her husband works overtime as a nurse and the couple still can hardly make ends meet.
“Just as we have to cut back, everyone has to cut back. ... It doesn’t work that you get more money because you’re in a union and my husband doesn’t,” she said.
Most speakers in the crowd of more than 130 people said that they just can’t afford a tax increase with the bad economy, but firefighters and several others spoke in defense of the tax increase.
Resident Bob Orlando pointed out that the firefighters already gave back their raises this year.
“Now you are saying it’s not enough,” he told the crowd.
Also this year, the department renegotiated its life and liability insurance to save money.
In addition, the department switched to getting its fuel from the city, which buys in bulk at a reduced cost. Massaro has said he is even looking into a new phone plan to save more cash.
Commissioners and fire officials have been grappling with significant financial problems that were exacerbated when the district accepted and included in its 2007-08 budget a nearly $400,000 overpayment from the city.
The commissioners included the overpayment in the beginning balance when putting together the budget for 2007-08. But since the city demanded the overpayment be repaid, Allingtown was left with a shortfall.
Earlier this year, the fire department borrowed $400,000 to make ends meet. That tax anticipation note was paid back in September.
Speakers at Friday night’s meeting again questioned why the department spent the $400,000 by including it in the budget, when other departments set the overpayment aside until they figured out what it was for.
“If you can’t handle $400,000, when it doesn’t belong to you, you don’t deserve to get more money,” said resident Sandra Burns.
New Commissioner Ronald Walters said future overpayments will be set aside when they are received.
Massaro has recently warned that if the tax increase is not approved, the first thing in jeopardy of being eliminated is the paramedic service.
Abbe Smith can be reached at asmith@nhregister.com or 789-5615.
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