#Middlebury #Budgets
By MARJORIE NEEDHAM
The 2019-2020 proposed Town of Middlebury budget Middlebury First Selectman Edward B. St. John presented to the Middlebury Board of Finance (BoF) Feb. 13 totaled $11.4 million, a 1.9-percent increase of $212,816 over the current $11.1 million budget.
On Feb. 25, Regional School District 15 Superintendent Joshua Smith presented his proposed budget to the Board of Education (BoE). It totaled $70.8 million, a 2.48-percent increase of $1.7 million over the current $69.1 million budget.
The proposed budgets are just that – proposed. The Middlebury Board of Finance will determine the town budget that will be on the May 8 ballot; the Region 15 Board of Education will determine the Region 15 budget that also will be voted on May 8.
The town started developing its proposed 2019-2020 budget in December 2018, and the BoF has added to its schedule special meetings so the various town departments can present their budgets. In January, Public Works, the Library and the Park and Recreation Department presented budgets. Feb 12, St. John presented his proposed budget and the Police and Fire Department presented their budgets the evening of Feb. 27.
A BoF regular meeting is scheduled for March 13, and by March 15 the BoF is to have a finalized 2019-2020 budget ready to submit to a public hearing. That public hearing will be Tuesday, April 9, at 6:30 p.m in the Larkin Room at the Middlebury Public Library. The BoF will have a special meeting, also in the Larkin Room, immediately following the public hearing.
Voters will cast their ballots May 8 (on both the town and the Region 15 budgets) and the BoF will meet immediately after the polls close and the ballots have been counted. If the budgets are approved, the BoF will set the new mil rate.
Some items highlighted by St. John during his presentation to the BoF were the increase in payroll; budget adjustments for the police, public works and fire departments; and funding to help elderly residents.
He said the payroll is driven by collective bargaining for employees who are union members, and the town tries to keep increases equal to or less than 2.5 percent per year. He said the BoE settled for 2.85 percent increases in its teachers’ contract, and that makes it difficult for the town. Appointed employees will see 2 percent increases.
For the various departments, St. John said the police department needs the computers and technology required for the 21st century, the public works department needs to keep up with vehicle maintenance, and the fire department needs funding for maintenance and training.
He said the state, which historically reimbursed the town for the funds for the elderly homeowner exemption, is no longer doing so, and there is $44,000 in the budget for that purpose.
“These are people who desperately need it,” he said. “That is the only break our seniors get.” He added, “I strongly feel we need to put this money in the budget.”
The Region 15 budget schedule calls for two BoE budget workshops, a public hearing that includes a budget workshop and then a meeting at which the BoE will adopt the final 2019-2020 budget. Superintendent Smith said in an email that all budget meetings are open to the public and will include time to comment.
The meetings also will be filmed and available through the Region 15 website, region15.org, along with presentations and handouts. Smith’s Feb. 25 presentation is on the site in PDF format, and the meeting video also is posted there. Click on the “Board of Education” quick link to get to the video.
Budget workshops will be held Wednesday, March 6, and Wednesday, March 20, at 6:30 p.m. in the Pomperaug High School All-Purpose Room. The March 6 meeting will focus on elementary schools (grades K-5), middle schools (grades 6-8) and curriculum and development. The March 20 meeting will focus on the high school, athletics, SPED (special education) and technology.
The public hearing and budget workshop meeting will be Wednesday, March 27, at 6:30 p.m. in the Pomperaug High School All-Purpose Room. The boards of finance from Middlebury and Southbury have been invited to attend and participate in the budget conversation that night. During public comments, residents from Middlebury and Southbury will have three minutes each in which to express their thoughts on the budget.
The BoE will meet Monday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pomperaug High School All-Purpose Room to adopt the final 2019-2020 budget. Residents of Middlebury and Southbury will vote on the budget (and their town’s respective budgets) on Wednesday, May 8.
