Video index
1. Call Meeting to Order
7
2. Roll Call
Roll call (10 Present, 0 Absent, 0 Excused)
3. Public Participation [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed thirty (30) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of the majority of the Town Council.]
Wendy Black, 77 Woodland Drive - School Board budget. Dr. Carter is amazing and really understands our Town and knows how to help our kids. I moved here because SW has an excellent reputation for education. This is her budget and was approved by our elected Board of Education. We need to show our faith in her and need to fund the full budget. We can not continue to sustain these bare bones budgets. At some point will create problem to the budget and hurt our children. Damage to our schools damages our Town. I have grown to love SW. I want my kids to have the best and that is why I moved here. David Joy, 100 Bramblebrae - Chair of the BOE. Our request 1.3 million dollars or 1.94% which is second lowest request. Joint meeting Health Care allowed us to reduce 438,000 to 1.29% which is the lowest request. Today met with Tm and Mayor - we understand try to build larger increass for the Town and Capital. That may have to come at the expense of the BOE's expense. Personally I support it. I understand the need for this approach. Dr. Carter has 2 additional ways for the Town - Town can use money for funding and second remove Board's only from Capital and will fund this item which is upgrade of fire alarm and will fund from current budget. Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail - have not seen anything in the newspaper just have seen percentages. I would like to know what is the increase in the Town budget from year to year. I would like to know the Town percentage. Anwar - proposal from the BOE 1.29% and on the Town side 9.87% Don Gon - does that include capital? yes Don Gonsalves - have been in town for almost 8 years - I have asked to have review of two areas, 1 health care (16M) of the total budget is basically for health care. I have asked for meeting on health care. October 17, 2011 we had an agenda meeting and ther was only one item on the agenda and some person talked about telephone poles and only spent 15 minutes on health care. I have asked every Mayor to review the health care. I want to know if ther is any saving sin health care. Another area have asked for is the pension program. Town Council heard that the pension was under funded 500,000 to no problem. As a citizen I don't know what is going on with the pension. WE have one of the richest defined benefit plan. Employee contributes 6% and Town 3% - that is the standard. We contribut 4 x as much. Would like that also reviewed. School budget - 15-16 days of sick leave. School employees 2 1/2 times more then the private industry. When they leave they get a huge lump sum. Town employees don't get that. Kevin Greer, - member of the SW Boys Lacrosse program. We had a big tournament this weekend at Nevers Park. Thanked the Parks & Recreation Department for all of their work. The stress this weekend was the rain. His groups of people moved the lawn and it looked fantastic. Thanked them for their dedication. John Caldwell called me at 6:30 a.m. and gave me the news that we were going to go ahead with the tournament. They care about the fields.
4. Communications
Pendleton - off of Pleasant Valley Road there has been a lot of noise and work starts early and ends late. working with Michele to create an Ordinance. We have no open space and development will effect residents. Michele has no zoning enforcement. Anwar - reminder on Thursday conference Regional Economic Development.
5. Town Manager's Report [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed ten (10) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of the majority of the Council.]
Galligan - Don is right. I would say that the health care system and all of their BC/BS - we have changed those to high deductible plans. 2,000/4,000 where we are looking for employees to put in more. every year trying to negoitate somkething. The plan had drug card. unfortunately just can't tell the union this is it. Pension - 12% - I have that and it was the only plan that the Town had. If you want to change that plan now - 36% - what I have done is negotiate is that all new employees go in 401 - 6%/6%. Now what we have is new employees are in 401 (PW, Police, etc.). Police used to be paid for their health forever - that has been negotiated out. If you retire and take another job you have to take those benefits. New employees (Police) will not get health out the door. WE have made a lot of changes over the years. This is a union environment. If you go to any other town around here Police officers get benefits out the door. town does not include overtime - we have done a good job keeping costs down. West Hartford and Manchester 3-5M - South Windsor doesn't do that. Pension - Kevin and Cindy wanted to put the discount rate down - 3M unfunded liability - that is what they are talking about. Town pays the ARC - Pension Committee just lowered the discount rate. They were saying to take 500,000 and put it towards it. Pension Committeewas created when I cam here, prior to that there was no Pension Committee. Mayor - the last meeting we skipped your report. please speak on the marijuana dispensary. Galligan - P & Z said yes acceptble buisness. Town is not giving incentive. group of people who have this type of business - we have no obligation, we have nothing to do with them. Two people called me - their security system is very stringent. Think about the drugs that are in a pharmacy. Your local pharmacy has more to worry about then this facility. I could not say they could not come here. Anwar - this was not for the Town Council to approve. The approval is not the TC's responsiblity. Galligan - P & Z - we have had some companies that wanted to come here and we have tried to change the zone - you have to be careful.
6. Items for Discussion
A. Board of Education Budget
B. General Government Budget
Wagner - I will mention benchmark - turns out the inflation rate for US 1.5% - inflation rate for NE region was 1.5%. I think we are not required to stay below or above but it is a benchmark. Last year the tax increase was distributed unevenly advages 3x the rate of inflation. Think would be good to come closer to benchmark. Stay as close as possible to 1.5% to take care of our taxpayers the best we can. Prague - the inflation does not include food which is 10-15% annuall or energy. I am certainly not going to vote for a 5-6% increase to our budget. Yagaloff - I don't agree with certain language in here. #2 says wht are the top 3 things that we feel can't compromise on the budget for. I can compromise on the budget as we move forward. we should work together to compromise. we should be open to compromise. problem with raising inflation is that CT has high rate of inflation because of our energy and food costs. Wagner - cost of living in NE is 30% higher then every where else. Yagaloff - last year we had a large - we had a reval and I thought that some of the increase got caught in the reval. There was a significant tax increase last year and reval. taxes have gone up quite considerably. 10 years ago the budget was 50,000 and now it is 107,000. I think the 1-2 is my range. 2% I am not interested in I am looking at 1.5% - Delnicki - one thing we are missing here is spending increase and that is a key component because if you are going to compare apples to apples you need tolook at spending. BOE 200,000 and 100,000 + 300,000. Anwar - the budget stays at 1.29% but the town side would save the Town side 300,000. Delnicki - we need to review the spending. I am probably in column #3 Anwar - which is 1-2% increase Pendleton - 10 years ago when I was on th ecouncil - we have doubled the cost on the BOE - I am at the 1-2%. Would like to see 1.25%. Think we need to do business differently. Some times the well can run dry. Mirek - We have a lot of needs that we must fund (PW salt, tree's, Park & Rec,) School has already reduced their budget. I think around 2% I am comfortable with. We need to take care of the needs. Havens - for some reason everyone good with 1.5% to 2%. Need to look ahead - the 1.5% level I have not heard any complaints. The BOE and Council has satisfied 75% of this community. Feel I get this year is that 1.5% would be permissible. th 1.5% would take care of most of our needs. Anwar - budget is all about priority setting. Council has to look at th epropsal on the table. The BOE propsal is 1.29% increase. BOE 9.87% increase. The Town Government is different this year. All of the departments have put their needs on the table. 9.87% is actually the wish list of the departments. Galligan - yes - every year we cut the budgets back and the department heads wanted to have discussions with the Council. I look at this budget as a planning process. We have some critical needs, Capital, salt and rolling inventory. roads catch basins. Town has cut back and now we need to know what the Town's priorities are. There has to be a partnership betwen the Town staff and the Council. Anwar - this was a good idea. From the TC's perspective you have taken care a lot of these discussions. this year you have had the Town Council involved in the process and allowed the Town Council to know what is needed. In our conversations we have individually reviewed and made decisions regarding priorities BOE has an organized process. It is very appropriate. I think it is a good propsal. Next years budget is going to more of a challenge. BOE budget is fair. Problem we have is we need to keep the percentage down - Galligan - when we get a surplus the Town does not get that surplus back. Surplus tht the School Board had was used wisely. in the future the council should try to get projections out early. Anwar - this year the challenge is we want to try to take care of responsiilities of capital projecvts. We have been behind as a Town. Last year we were last town to fund capitla projects. will be working with Councilor Snyder, Pendelton, Chair David Joy and Superintendent. we need to work together. There is a lot of catching up to do. Many people in managerial positions are behind and need to take care of them. We don't want to increase taxes too much. 1.5% range - this will require a limited amount of money that we will have. need to distributre where we don't compromise school or town programs. last year the taxes effected a lot of residents. we can't keep going up on the taxes. we have to move forward and take care of our responsibilities. Snyder - I around 2% - 1.75% to 1.9% - in reviewing 1.5% will do too much damage. I think the three things critical 1) education; 2) public safety and 3) Human Services. the BOE has done all of the heavy lifting and they are able to provide the twon 300,000 which is half of what they are asking for. If ther eare any unexpended funds that can not be used for reoccuring costs. The BOE is great good and they reviewed everything. EOC I feel is very important and should provide funding ($133,000 is what is being proposed). Police need to bring staff to 43 officers also support small items. Public Works should support managerial position. Public Works does a lot for the safety. Park & Rec made a great case with Turf Specialist. Human SErvices additional items - more time in CARES program and I think his transportation should be supported. We should be funding the BOE budget at 1.29%. if they have surplus they will use it wisely. I think 1.5% is too low. 1.75% to 1.9% is where I am. Yagaloff - I thik agree with a lot of things Councilor Snyder has said. My prioritie sare education and public safety are generally higher priorities. The problem is making the shoe fit. I am open to a lot of compromise and do support EOC. when you do the calculation Galligan 864,000 Yagalof 1/4 percent a little over 200,000. I am open to having a discussion if we cut to 1.5% and then have room for compromise. we have to make some significant reductions to requests. If we took Board to 1.29% and backed out the rest of the money to Town for Capital Projects. I think the capital projects is going to be about 800,000 or less. no matter what there are very few new positions that we are going to be able to fund. What is our priority of filling positions. Do we take from the capital or from the BOE. We funded fully the BOE in the last two years. Need to have discussion with BOE, what is the surplus, how can we allow for enought funds on the town side and capital projects. we are not going to be ble to fully fund positions, BOE, etc. Galligna - it can't be done. Yagaloff - I think we need to roll up our sleeves and discuss our prioriites. Anwar - good news is most of our us ar ein the 1.5% to 2%. If we went with 1.5% the dollar amount 3.118 million dollars. how do we allocate that. 4.32 million dollars if we fully fund capital prjects. need to figure out how to coordinate. Delnicki - prioriites, publc safety, schools, human services. we have to consider a spending increase which drives everything. surpluses need to be reviewed. .1% increase equals 86,000. on the EOC we need to have that discussion. need to know how we are going to phase in everything. EOC is part of public safety. Police Dept. I do see an opportunity with partnering with Asnuntuck College. as for the down turn I can't say it is over. Clear Edge filed bankruptcy. Snyder - on the capital projects budget, we have meeting this week and we are looking at ways to fund capital projects. capital projects - good place for unexpended funds. the best place for unexpended funds to go would be capital prjects. The BOE and Town really don't know what your unexpnded funds are until the close of the fiscal year. if we could look two years 14/15 and 15/16 ahead - 1.4 million for capital projects - 700,000 this year and 700,000 next year. if there is any money that is unexpended at the end of the year on theBOE and Town side was culd put into capital projects. then that coudl start building capital projects. looked at Jay's EOC budget - if you give 112,000 - even if we compormise fund 75% of that. Anwar - when I met with Superintendent and Chairperson Joy - right now have no knowledge of surplus. when BOE has surplus they like to put towards stabilization of BOE budget. surplus is committed to going towards pension. Surplus is not an option for the Town. Joy - the Board has a policy in process. We really don't know what the final number is. We had made a practice over the last three years that we use our surplus to be invested in healthcare reserve. the second area we invest is the non certified pension, we need to use surplus to fund ARC. BOE carry over up to 1% of their budget for special education costs. that fund does not have signiciatn balance at this time. Anwar - in the future we need to look at how some of these conversations can happen at the end of May so we know the numbers and if there is any surplus. Galligan - it has always been a problem that the State budge tis not done until June or July. It is charter that tells us when the budget needs to be done by. Anwar - with capital projects - we have a need for 1.4M - BOE has offered to take out items so down to 1.3M. there is already $1M that has been committed for next year. we can't do a 1.7M next year. we have to put money into capital project this year. Snyder - what dollar amount are you looking at. Anwar - take care of this year because next year already have $1M. we have 3.11M to allocate. despite the fact that the BOE budget is great, I would find it difficult to fund it fully. Yagaloff - reflecting on Councilor Snyders suggestions. cut capital projects to 700,000 - Galligan - it would have to lapse. Carter - we do give the surplus back by the way we use those funds. we have low budget because we anticipate surplus. in many ways funds come back to town because use them for things that will reduce our request to the Town Council. Yagaloff - capital projects doing that over two years with 700,000 each year. one option to make this work would be to cut capital projects to 700,000 and 800,000 and say if we get surplus for BOE or Town could go back to capital project. would be willing to see a reduction in the BOE budget. Delnicki - one good thing I would expect State aid would be at least what it is or maybe even more. The special education fund that was created last year that was to stabilize the budget. 10,000 in that fund is nothing. if you do have a surplus that would be area to be targeted. We have right size government and have to be cautious as to what we do to undo that . The concept of using the town surplus to capital projects makes sense. Wagner - remind people that a number of the items were grants - concerns me cutting in half and then not being able to cash in on the State grants. Caitla projects items are things that we need. Real problem is Capital projects should be closer to 8M. There are two fairly large capital projects which is the new WPCA facility and a new school. roads and maintenance would be cut if capital projects are not funjded in full. not all of the revenue increase come from tax increase. There ae other sources of reenues. Anwar - econiomic development activity which town has achieved gives us 1.___ million. we need to take care of things the town needs would be less if we had more economic development. 1.4M is the reduced capital projects budget. $200,000 will be a part of Galligna - come ot the fund balance - suggest adding Anwar - Galligan - everything should go into fund balance because when you are doing snapshot - if trying ot make financials lok clean then everything should go to fund balance first. Pendleton - BOE did great job on budget. could you live with a 0% increase? Joy - this is nothing tht the board has talked about. the schools are not going to come to a grinding hault- will see changes. we still need to fund healthcare and contractual increases. we still have transportation expenses. the difficulty is that it is a tough message. whatever you decide to do urge you to do sooner rather then later. if you are reducing our request, the sooner we know the better. Carter - hope it is not 0 - if there is a cut we will make it work. my concern is the big picture looking ahead. having delivered low budget - if we were to suffer 0 I am concerned how to make up for next year. capital projects - if we apply same approach we will be shifting a mistake in one aeea and make the mistaken in another area. W worked very hard to shift - we hope our efforts in the past to now will be recognized Pendleton - fo rmany years the BOE has been given large increases. the Town has not nor has the capital projects. next year knowing we are mandated with increase in salaries - face critical needs first and make sure those are in your budget, then needs then wants. we need to face critical needs on town side. would like capital projects funded fully. Anwar - we are one town one future. the fact that there will be investments into our school system. the school system has helped us in the past. Mirek - the BOE's budget are needs not wants. citizens want to invest into our schools. Do not have to narrow ourselves and may have to increase the budget - review. Havens - all of the needs are importatn to everyone. I have no problem look at 1.75%. Prague - when I see BOE budget as low as this one I stood up and cheered. AT one pont 1.29% - I will not vote for any budget that does not fully fund the BOE budget. Delnicki - we have reached a point where the propsals are down. Public Craig Zimmerman - 5A Amato Drive - 3M - board increase 880,000, 1.3M - 900,00 increase from the town side. BOE 1.29% - 2.5% in Town? so you could do. there are things that I call smart investments. HOpefully do not miss smart investments. Turf Specialist (agree with) and reclassify program specialist in Recreation. dn't want to get rid of minimal cost for something that will be a huge benefit. Start with900,000 and get rid of items. Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail - 1.29% comes frm them using the surplus. they are already factoring in the surplus. so the requst is larger then 1.29% and would be larger. how much are they projecting. Anwar - we have a difficult task ahead of us. idea is to not hurt anyone but not have everyone totally happy.
7. Executive Session
A. To discuss possible purchase of real estate for the Town
Delnicki at 9:43 p.m. discuss possbile purchase of real estate for the Town, personnel litigation, pending claims and litigation, Pendleton unanimou
8. Adjournment
B. General Government Budget
Snyder - great conversation - looking to approve the budget on May 5th. Anwar - going to vote on Town budget and Board budget. will not be able to have a formal meeting before that and can reach out toeachother. I was lookng for prioity setting from people tonight. snyder - what direction are we giving to the Town Manager - I want scenarios put together Anwar - Matt Matt - every concil may want to look at status quo worksheet. staff position are all out - still looking at Anwar - matt will send scenarios - we will figure out something that would be acceptable. Matt - I know we want a capital budget - $1M is more realistic. hoping to build year to year on capital. once capitla gets to certain point then don't have to increase from opearting budget. Snyder - you have met with department heads. when I look at Turf Specialist - will you be considering requests that Dept. Heads requested and you feel are necessary. Galligan - 23,000 for outside services - I will work off of that. My numbers will include BOE budget. Delnicki - this is exactly why I asked for status quo budget. are you anticipating 800,000 or 400,000 infund balance? Galligan 800,000 to 1M. Yagaloff - your budget is at 900,000 on town side - and capital projects. the challenge is to build a town budget with 900,000 Galligan - 600,000 in debt service and some in unclassified. would have to figure out rest. Anwar - in order to do we would Yagaloff -what is the process to getting us information. Galligan - Yagaloff - we won't be able to have discussion Galligan - 1.4M probabaly will not happen. probably will be able to get to 1.65% or 1.75%. getting downt o 1.5% still down. Yagaloff - scenario - not fully fund BOE - give us some assessment if we don't fully fund - Wagner - each dept. can you indicate what you would do next. indicate what prioriites would be. Galligna - cuts - all those cuts are personel Tom read letter into the record Mayor read letter into the record Mirek - people move to SW for excellen schools and stay here for the services
7. Executive Session
Apr 28, 2014 Town Council Special Budget Work Session
Full agenda
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Video Index
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1. Call Meeting to Order
7
2. Roll Call
Roll call (10 Present, 0 Absent, 0 Excused)
3. Public Participation [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed thirty (30) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of the majority of the Town Council.]
Wendy Black, 77 Woodland Drive - School Board budget. Dr. Carter is amazing and really understands our Town and knows how to help our kids. I moved here because SW has an excellent reputation for education. This is her budget and was approved by our elected Board of Education. We need to show our faith in her and need to fund the full budget. We can not continue to sustain these bare bones budgets. At some point will create problem to the budget and hurt our children. Damage to our schools damages our Town. I have grown to love SW. I want my kids to have the best and that is why I moved here. David Joy, 100 Bramblebrae - Chair of the BOE. Our request 1.3 million dollars or 1.94% which is second lowest request. Joint meeting Health Care allowed us to reduce 438,000 to 1.29% which is the lowest request. Today met with Tm and Mayor - we understand try to build larger increass for the Town and Capital. That may have to come at the expense of the BOE's expense. Personally I support it. I understand the need for this approach. Dr. Carter has 2 additional ways for the Town - Town can use money for funding and second remove Board's only from Capital and will fund this item which is upgrade of fire alarm and will fund from current budget. Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail - have not seen anything in the newspaper just have seen percentages. I would like to know what is the increase in the Town budget from year to year. I would like to know the Town percentage. Anwar - proposal from the BOE 1.29% and on the Town side 9.87% Don Gon - does that include capital? yes Don Gonsalves - have been in town for almost 8 years - I have asked to have review of two areas, 1 health care (16M) of the total budget is basically for health care. I have asked for meeting on health care. October 17, 2011 we had an agenda meeting and ther was only one item on the agenda and some person talked about telephone poles and only spent 15 minutes on health care. I have asked every Mayor to review the health care. I want to know if ther is any saving sin health care. Another area have asked for is the pension program. Town Council heard that the pension was under funded 500,000 to no problem. As a citizen I don't know what is going on with the pension. WE have one of the richest defined benefit plan. Employee contributes 6% and Town 3% - that is the standard. We contribut 4 x as much. Would like that also reviewed. School budget - 15-16 days of sick leave. School employees 2 1/2 times more then the private industry. When they leave they get a huge lump sum. Town employees don't get that. Kevin Greer, - member of the SW Boys Lacrosse program. We had a big tournament this weekend at Nevers Park. Thanked the Parks & Recreation Department for all of their work. The stress this weekend was the rain. His groups of people moved the lawn and it looked fantastic. Thanked them for their dedication. John Caldwell called me at 6:30 a.m. and gave me the news that we were going to go ahead with the tournament. They care about the fields.
4. Communications
Pendleton - off of Pleasant Valley Road there has been a lot of noise and work starts early and ends late. working with Michele to create an Ordinance. We have no open space and development will effect residents. Michele has no zoning enforcement. Anwar - reminder on Thursday conference Regional Economic Development.
5. Town Manager's Report [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed ten (10) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of the majority of the Council.]
Galligan - Don is right. I would say that the health care system and all of their BC/BS - we have changed those to high deductible plans. 2,000/4,000 where we are looking for employees to put in more. every year trying to negoitate somkething. The plan had drug card. unfortunately just can't tell the union this is it. Pension - 12% - I have that and it was the only plan that the Town had. If you want to change that plan now - 36% - what I have done is negotiate is that all new employees go in 401 - 6%/6%. Now what we have is new employees are in 401 (PW, Police, etc.). Police used to be paid for their health forever - that has been negotiated out. If you retire and take another job you have to take those benefits. New employees (Police) will not get health out the door. WE have made a lot of changes over the years. This is a union environment. If you go to any other town around here Police officers get benefits out the door. town does not include overtime - we have done a good job keeping costs down. West Hartford and Manchester 3-5M - South Windsor doesn't do that. Pension - Kevin and Cindy wanted to put the discount rate down - 3M unfunded liability - that is what they are talking about. Town pays the ARC - Pension Committee just lowered the discount rate. They were saying to take 500,000 and put it towards it. Pension Committeewas created when I cam here, prior to that there was no Pension Committee. Mayor - the last meeting we skipped your report. please speak on the marijuana dispensary. Galligan - P & Z said yes acceptble buisness. Town is not giving incentive. group of people who have this type of business - we have no obligation, we have nothing to do with them. Two people called me - their security system is very stringent. Think about the drugs that are in a pharmacy. Your local pharmacy has more to worry about then this facility. I could not say they could not come here. Anwar - this was not for the Town Council to approve. The approval is not the TC's responsiblity. Galligan - P & Z - we have had some companies that wanted to come here and we have tried to change the zone - you have to be careful.
6. Items for Discussion
A. Board of Education Budget
B. General Government Budget
Wagner - I will mention benchmark - turns out the inflation rate for US 1.5% - inflation rate for NE region was 1.5%. I think we are not required to stay below or above but it is a benchmark. Last year the tax increase was distributed unevenly advages 3x the rate of inflation. Think would be good to come closer to benchmark. Stay as close as possible to 1.5% to take care of our taxpayers the best we can. Prague - the inflation does not include food which is 10-15% annuall or energy. I am certainly not going to vote for a 5-6% increase to our budget. Yagaloff - I don't agree with certain language in here. #2 says wht are the top 3 things that we feel can't compromise on the budget for. I can compromise on the budget as we move forward. we should work together to compromise. we should be open to compromise. problem with raising inflation is that CT has high rate of inflation because of our energy and food costs. Wagner - cost of living in NE is 30% higher then every where else. Yagaloff - last year we had a large - we had a reval and I thought that some of the increase got caught in the reval. There was a significant tax increase last year and reval. taxes have gone up quite considerably. 10 years ago the budget was 50,000 and now it is 107,000. I think the 1-2 is my range. 2% I am not interested in I am looking at 1.5% - Delnicki - one thing we are missing here is spending increase and that is a key component because if you are going to compare apples to apples you need tolook at spending. BOE 200,000 and 100,000 + 300,000. Anwar - the budget stays at 1.29% but the town side would save the Town side 300,000. Delnicki - we need to review the spending. I am probably in column #3 Anwar - which is 1-2% increase Pendleton - 10 years ago when I was on th ecouncil - we have doubled the cost on the BOE - I am at the 1-2%. Would like to see 1.25%. Think we need to do business differently. Some times the well can run dry. Mirek - We have a lot of needs that we must fund (PW salt, tree's, Park & Rec,) School has already reduced their budget. I think around 2% I am comfortable with. We need to take care of the needs. Havens - for some reason everyone good with 1.5% to 2%. Need to look ahead - the 1.5% level I have not heard any complaints. The BOE and Council has satisfied 75% of this community. Feel I get this year is that 1.5% would be permissible. th 1.5% would take care of most of our needs. Anwar - budget is all about priority setting. Council has to look at th epropsal on the table. The BOE propsal is 1.29% increase. BOE 9.87% increase. The Town Government is different this year. All of the departments have put their needs on the table. 9.87% is actually the wish list of the departments. Galligan - yes - every year we cut the budgets back and the department heads wanted to have discussions with the Council. I look at this budget as a planning process. We have some critical needs, Capital, salt and rolling inventory. roads catch basins. Town has cut back and now we need to know what the Town's priorities are. There has to be a partnership betwen the Town staff and the Council. Anwar - this was a good idea. From the TC's perspective you have taken care a lot of these discussions. this year you have had the Town Council involved in the process and allowed the Town Council to know what is needed. In our conversations we have individually reviewed and made decisions regarding priorities BOE has an organized process. It is very appropriate. I think it is a good propsal. Next years budget is going to more of a challenge. BOE budget is fair. Problem we have is we need to keep the percentage down - Galligan - when we get a surplus the Town does not get that surplus back. Surplus tht the School Board had was used wisely. in the future the council should try to get projections out early. Anwar - this year the challenge is we want to try to take care of responsiilities of capital projecvts. We have been behind as a Town. Last year we were last town to fund capitla projects. will be working with Councilor Snyder, Pendelton, Chair David Joy and Superintendent. we need to work together. There is a lot of catching up to do. Many people in managerial positions are behind and need to take care of them. We don't want to increase taxes too much. 1.5% range - this will require a limited amount of money that we will have. need to distributre where we don't compromise school or town programs. last year the taxes effected a lot of residents. we can't keep going up on the taxes. we have to move forward and take care of our responsibilities. Snyder - I around 2% - 1.75% to 1.9% - in reviewing 1.5% will do too much damage. I think the three things critical 1) education; 2) public safety and 3) Human Services. the BOE has done all of the heavy lifting and they are able to provide the twon 300,000 which is half of what they are asking for. If ther eare any unexpended funds that can not be used for reoccuring costs. The BOE is great good and they reviewed everything. EOC I feel is very important and should provide funding ($133,000 is what is being proposed). Police need to bring staff to 43 officers also support small items. Public Works should support managerial position. Public Works does a lot for the safety. Park & Rec made a great case with Turf Specialist. Human SErvices additional items - more time in CARES program and I think his transportation should be supported. We should be funding the BOE budget at 1.29%. if they have surplus they will use it wisely. I think 1.5% is too low. 1.75% to 1.9% is where I am. Yagaloff - I thik agree with a lot of things Councilor Snyder has said. My prioritie sare education and public safety are generally higher priorities. The problem is making the shoe fit. I am open to a lot of compromise and do support EOC. when you do the calculation Galligan 864,000 Yagalof 1/4 percent a little over 200,000. I am open to having a discussion if we cut to 1.5% and then have room for compromise. we have to make some significant reductions to requests. If we took Board to 1.29% and backed out the rest of the money to Town for Capital Projects. I think the capital projects is going to be about 800,000 or less. no matter what there are very few new positions that we are going to be able to fund. What is our priority of filling positions. Do we take from the capital or from the BOE. We funded fully the BOE in the last two years. Need to have discussion with BOE, what is the surplus, how can we allow for enought funds on the town side and capital projects. we are not going to be ble to fully fund positions, BOE, etc. Galligna - it can't be done. Yagaloff - I think we need to roll up our sleeves and discuss our prioriites. Anwar - good news is most of our us ar ein the 1.5% to 2%. If we went with 1.5% the dollar amount 3.118 million dollars. how do we allocate that. 4.32 million dollars if we fully fund capital prjects. need to figure out how to coordinate. Delnicki - prioriites, publc safety, schools, human services. we have to consider a spending increase which drives everything. surpluses need to be reviewed. .1% increase equals 86,000. on the EOC we need to have that discussion. need to know how we are going to phase in everything. EOC is part of public safety. Police Dept. I do see an opportunity with partnering with Asnuntuck College. as for the down turn I can't say it is over. Clear Edge filed bankruptcy. Snyder - on the capital projects budget, we have meeting this week and we are looking at ways to fund capital projects. capital projects - good place for unexpended funds. the best place for unexpended funds to go would be capital prjects. The BOE and Town really don't know what your unexpnded funds are until the close of the fiscal year. if we could look two years 14/15 and 15/16 ahead - 1.4 million for capital projects - 700,000 this year and 700,000 next year. if there is any money that is unexpended at the end of the year on theBOE and Town side was culd put into capital projects. then that coudl start building capital projects. looked at Jay's EOC budget - if you give 112,000 - even if we compormise fund 75% of that. Anwar - when I met with Superintendent and Chairperson Joy - right now have no knowledge of surplus. when BOE has surplus they like to put towards stabilization of BOE budget. surplus is committed to going towards pension. Surplus is not an option for the Town. Joy - the Board has a policy in process. We really don't know what the final number is. We had made a practice over the last three years that we use our surplus to be invested in healthcare reserve. the second area we invest is the non certified pension, we need to use surplus to fund ARC. BOE carry over up to 1% of their budget for special education costs. that fund does not have signiciatn balance at this time. Anwar - in the future we need to look at how some of these conversations can happen at the end of May so we know the numbers and if there is any surplus. Galligan - it has always been a problem that the State budge tis not done until June or July. It is charter that tells us when the budget needs to be done by. Anwar - with capital projects - we have a need for 1.4M - BOE has offered to take out items so down to 1.3M. there is already $1M that has been committed for next year. we can't do a 1.7M next year. we have to put money into capital project this year. Snyder - what dollar amount are you looking at. Anwar - take care of this year because next year already have $1M. we have 3.11M to allocate. despite the fact that the BOE budget is great, I would find it difficult to fund it fully. Yagaloff - reflecting on Councilor Snyders suggestions. cut capital projects to 700,000 - Galligan - it would have to lapse. Carter - we do give the surplus back by the way we use those funds. we have low budget because we anticipate surplus. in many ways funds come back to town because use them for things that will reduce our request to the Town Council. Yagaloff - capital projects doing that over two years with 700,000 each year. one option to make this work would be to cut capital projects to 700,000 and 800,000 and say if we get surplus for BOE or Town could go back to capital project. would be willing to see a reduction in the BOE budget. Delnicki - one good thing I would expect State aid would be at least what it is or maybe even more. The special education fund that was created last year that was to stabilize the budget. 10,000 in that fund is nothing. if you do have a surplus that would be area to be targeted. We have right size government and have to be cautious as to what we do to undo that . The concept of using the town surplus to capital projects makes sense. Wagner - remind people that a number of the items were grants - concerns me cutting in half and then not being able to cash in on the State grants. Caitla projects items are things that we need. Real problem is Capital projects should be closer to 8M. There are two fairly large capital projects which is the new WPCA facility and a new school. roads and maintenance would be cut if capital projects are not funjded in full. not all of the revenue increase come from tax increase. There ae other sources of reenues. Anwar - econiomic development activity which town has achieved gives us 1.___ million. we need to take care of things the town needs would be less if we had more economic development. 1.4M is the reduced capital projects budget. $200,000 will be a part of Galligna - come ot the fund balance - suggest adding Anwar - Galligan - everything should go into fund balance because when you are doing snapshot - if trying ot make financials lok clean then everything should go to fund balance first. Pendleton - BOE did great job on budget. could you live with a 0% increase? Joy - this is nothing tht the board has talked about. the schools are not going to come to a grinding hault- will see changes. we still need to fund healthcare and contractual increases. we still have transportation expenses. the difficulty is that it is a tough message. whatever you decide to do urge you to do sooner rather then later. if you are reducing our request, the sooner we know the better. Carter - hope it is not 0 - if there is a cut we will make it work. my concern is the big picture looking ahead. having delivered low budget - if we were to suffer 0 I am concerned how to make up for next year. capital projects - if we apply same approach we will be shifting a mistake in one aeea and make the mistaken in another area. W worked very hard to shift - we hope our efforts in the past to now will be recognized Pendleton - fo rmany years the BOE has been given large increases. the Town has not nor has the capital projects. next year knowing we are mandated with increase in salaries - face critical needs first and make sure those are in your budget, then needs then wants. we need to face critical needs on town side. would like capital projects funded fully. Anwar - we are one town one future. the fact that there will be investments into our school system. the school system has helped us in the past. Mirek - the BOE's budget are needs not wants. citizens want to invest into our schools. Do not have to narrow ourselves and may have to increase the budget - review. Havens - all of the needs are importatn to everyone. I have no problem look at 1.75%. Prague - when I see BOE budget as low as this one I stood up and cheered. AT one pont 1.29% - I will not vote for any budget that does not fully fund the BOE budget. Delnicki - we have reached a point where the propsals are down. Public Craig Zimmerman - 5A Amato Drive - 3M - board increase 880,000, 1.3M - 900,00 increase from the town side. BOE 1.29% - 2.5% in Town? so you could do. there are things that I call smart investments. HOpefully do not miss smart investments. Turf Specialist (agree with) and reclassify program specialist in Recreation. dn't want to get rid of minimal cost for something that will be a huge benefit. Start with900,000 and get rid of items. Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail - 1.29% comes frm them using the surplus. they are already factoring in the surplus. so the requst is larger then 1.29% and would be larger. how much are they projecting. Anwar - we have a difficult task ahead of us. idea is to not hurt anyone but not have everyone totally happy.
7. Executive Session
A. To discuss possible purchase of real estate for the Town
Delnicki at 9:43 p.m. discuss possbile purchase of real estate for the Town, personnel litigation, pending claims and litigation, Pendleton unanimou
8. Adjournment
B. General Government Budget
Snyder - great conversation - looking to approve the budget on May 5th. Anwar - going to vote on Town budget and Board budget. will not be able to have a formal meeting before that and can reach out toeachother. I was lookng for prioity setting from people tonight. snyder - what direction are we giving to the Town Manager - I want scenarios put together Anwar - Matt Matt - every concil may want to look at status quo worksheet. staff position are all out - still looking at Anwar - matt will send scenarios - we will figure out something that would be acceptable. Matt - I know we want a capital budget - $1M is more realistic. hoping to build year to year on capital. once capitla gets to certain point then don't have to increase from opearting budget. Snyder - you have met with department heads. when I look at Turf Specialist - will you be considering requests that Dept. Heads requested and you feel are necessary. Galligan - 23,000 for outside services - I will work off of that. My numbers will include BOE budget. Delnicki - this is exactly why I asked for status quo budget. are you anticipating 800,000 or 400,000 infund balance? Galligan 800,000 to 1M. Yagaloff - your budget is at 900,000 on town side - and capital projects. the challenge is to build a town budget with 900,000 Galligan - 600,000 in debt service and some in unclassified. would have to figure out rest. Anwar - in order to do we would Yagaloff -what is the process to getting us information. Galligan - Yagaloff - we won't be able to have discussion Galligan - 1.4M probabaly will not happen. probably will be able to get to 1.65% or 1.75%. getting downt o 1.5% still down. Yagaloff - scenario - not fully fund BOE - give us some assessment if we don't fully fund - Wagner - each dept. can you indicate what you would do next. indicate what prioriites would be. Galligna - cuts - all those cuts are personel Tom read letter into the record Mayor read letter into the record Mirek - people move to SW for excellen schools and stay here for the services
7. Executive Session
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