Community Corner

Finance Board Increases Library Budget; Makes No Changes To School Budget

After last week's public hearing, the Board of Finance increased the library's budget by $31,500 after hearing comments asking that the library be restored to Sunday and full hours.

 

After last week's , the members of the Board of Finance (BOF) said they would take into account comments made at the hearing and may elect to change or alter one or both of the budgets at their next meeting, April 9.

So they did.

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They increased the library's proposed budget by $31,500 - restoring it from the proposed $693,500 to $725,000 for fiscal year '12-'13 so the facility could return to "normal" hours including opening on Sundays during winter months.

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Find out what's happening in Clintonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"There was an overwhelming response from the townspeople at the public hearing for restoring funding to the library and we should not ignore it," said BOF member Stephen Lillquist.

In '10-'11, the library's operating budget was $693,500. That number was cut by $100,000 last year following the failed town referendum to $593,500.

Library Director Marybeth Breen said state funding is down as is the library's trust put in place by the estate of Henry Carter Hull and his wife.

The BOF made no changes in the school budget.

Under a new motion and approved by the BOF, the town budget is proposed at $15 million for fiscal '12-'13, which represents an increase of 5.32 percent or $760,029 over current spending. The school budget is $31.3 million which represents a 0.55 percent increase or $171,984 over current spending. Both numbers include operating, debt retirement and capital improvement figures.

The two budgets move to a town-wide referendum vote on May 9. All voting is held from 6am to 8pm at . Registered voters as well as electors (those owning property in town assessed at $1,000 or more on the current grand list not in trust) are eligible and encouraged to vote.


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