Low Turnout At Budget Public Hearing

It was a lower turnout than normal for the public hearing on the proposed $14.5 million town budget and $31.5 million school budget - and folks who did attend spoke to their own situations rather than asked specific questions about the budget.

At past hearings, residents asked questions as to the cuts or additions in specific line items or department budgets.

Not so this year.

Mark Lender of Shore Road spoke of his "outrageous" property tax bill.

"My situation is dire and I am not alone," he said. "I will fight you on this."

Jim Aeillo who said his house is waterfront property, spoke too, of his high property taxes.

"$14,000 is a lot of taxes to take from one person in one year," he said.

Lisa MacDonald of Shore Road said she pays $25,000 a year in property taxes and is unemployed.

She expressed her concern that if the town sets a mill rate increase, the state could raise it substantially after it settles its budget this summer.

Recently, the Board of Finance approved both the town and school budgets, sending them to the April 13 public hearing which was held at the Andrews Memorial Town Hall auditorium. 

The board approved the $14.5 million town budget proposed for the 2011-2012 fiscal year which begins July 1, 2011 and ends June 30, 2012.

The board also approved the proposed '11-12 fiscal year school budget at $31.5 million.

First Selectman Willie Fritz said the proposed town budget represents a 2.25 percent increase over the current budget. The Board of Education's proposed budget represents a 1.71 percent increase over the current year.

Total expenditures are proposed at $46 million. 

The projected tax (mill) rate was stated as 25.35 - an increase over the current (fiscal '10-'11) rate of 22.41. 

The two budgets, which are voted on separately, go to a referendum vote May 11.