[Update] Whittled Town Budget Proposed At $14.95 Million

Note and clarification: at their February 8 meeting, the Board of Selectmen made clear their motion of February 1 to say, "to approve the budget as revised and send it to the Board of Finance." All BOS members voted in favor of the motion.

First Selectman Willie Fritz noted that at that meeting he said, "motion to approve..." which was "so noted" by Selectman Dolly Mezzetti.

"I would not have sent the budget to the Board of Finance without approving it," said Mezzetti. "The approval and support of the budget was inherent in the motion."

At their meeting February 1, the Board of Selectmen reviewed the town budget for the upcoming fiscal year which runs July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013.

As First Selectman Willie Fritz noted, after several weeks of crunching the numbers, he whittled it down to a total of $14,951,364. This number represents an increase of $662,579 (or 4.64 percent) over the current budget which is $14,288,785.

This is for the town only budget, he noted. The proposed school budget for fiscal '12-'13 was presented Jan. 25 by the superintendent of schools.

Line by line Fritz reviewed the cuts or decreases in department budgets such as the by $1,600; the by $8,400; maintenance for by $2,000; the by $1,400; the fire marshal by $36,250; communications by $79,000; the by $70,000; by $47,900; and by $33,000, to name a few.

The budget, which had been was approved by the board for $693,500, but not for their requested amount of $764,175.

Capital improvement requests dropped from $1.18 million to $552,000.

"Capital requests last year was only $478,000," said Fritz.

Selectman Dolly Mezzetti proposed that the first selectman's salary be increased by two or two and a half percent.

"The first selectman's raise has been flat for the past three years," said Mezzetti.

Selectman Carol Walter pointed out that the first selectman did receive a raise this year.

"But he deferred it," said Mezzetti.

"It's only right that we keep the position funded," said Selectman Tom Vicino.

In the end, a vote was taken to provide the position with a two percent salary increase, or $1,652. The motion passed with Mezzetti, Vicino and Selectman John Giannotti voting in favor of the increase. Carol Walter voted against it.

All members of the Board of Selectmen voted in favor of the proposed $14.95 million budget for fiscal '12-'13 and to forward it to the Board of Finance for their review.

Here is which compares the current year to the proposed budget.

Board of Selectmen's Approved

Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Request

General Gov't Administration (benefits)