Politics & Government

Mayor Harkins' Proposed Town Budget: 'Doing Less With Less'

Mayor's $189 million town budget proposal for fiscal year 2011-12 represents a 2.43% spending increase over the current year. However, a 1% drop in the grand list and a loss of $1.74 million in revenues translates into an overall tax hike of nearly 5%.

Citing increases in structural costs including education, pension, debt service, health insurance costs and workers' compensation, Mayor John Harkins has submitted his proposed budget to the Town Council that would push the average Stratford resident’s tax bill to $6,122, an increase of nearly 5%. 

The mayor’s budget “reflects a minimal amount of discretionary spending, a fairly modest 2.43 percent increase in spending” and would result “in a mill rate increase of 1.66 mills," up from the current rate of 33.32 to a new rate of 34.98. 

While spending only would increase by 2.43%, two items on the revenue side declined. Stratford's grand list of taxable property fell  by more than $45 million (-1%) the past year, and estimated revenues are estimated to be $1.747 million lower next year (-4.53%).  

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“This is not optimal by any stretch of the imagination,” the mayor wrote in his annual budget message to the Stratford Town Council dated March 12, “but it is necessary to maintain core services and to cover ever-rising fixed costs in town government.” 

The mayor’s budget does contain some painful cuts to several departments including a $236,362 reduction in funding for the Stratford Library, and the elimination of $100,000 in town funded monies for Parent’s Place.

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In addition, the proposal includes the elimination of eight town positions including four public works jobs, and one job in each of the following offices: tax collector, town assessor, senior services and animal control. 

“The goal of this budget was to maintain municipal services and to avoid school closures,” Mayor Harkins wrote. “The budget was crafted and cuts were made in a thoughtful manner.” 

Overall, the mayor has proposed municipal side spending increases at 3.77%, more than three times the rate of the his proposed 1.08% school spending hike. Educators are seeking an increase closer to 1.77% in their budget, numbers that will have to be reconciled in the coming weeks and months.

In dollar amounts, the municipal increase would be $3.5 million compared to the $1 million more the education budget would receive. 

“Once again this year, my budget is premised on doing ‘less with less’ as we push for economic recovery,” Harkins wrote. “There is no question that times are tough, but I am confident that by using our resources wisely we can continue to make Stratford an excellent place to live, work, conduct business, educate and raise a family.”

The mayor prefaced his budget proposal by noting that it "is contingent upon certain funding streams from the state remaining intact." Noting that the state's budget "is currently in flux," he said, "any changes to that document ... could have a direct impact on the town budget moving forward.

"In particular, the Manufacturing Marchine and Equipment (MME) PILOT grant is calculated ... into this budget," Harkins wrote. "If the state should cut this grant in part or whole, this would result in major staff and programmatic reductions, and would likely lead to higher taxes than are proposed in this budget."


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