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REDDING BOARD OF FINANCE
BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING
March 6, 2008
Filed subject to approval
Present:
Board of Finance: Alvarez(Chairman), Kearney, DeSalvo, Viscio, Simeonidis, Dolan (7:24 pm)
Board of Selectmen: Ketcham, Miller, Takacs
Redding Board of Education: Lewson(Chairman), Goldberg, Brey, Gaspar(7:06 pm), Barickman (7:23 pm)
Region #9 Board of Education: Stone(Chairman), Pemberton
School administration: Fossbender, Sullivan, Mas, Martin, Wallin, Pierson, Johnson, Farrell, Freeston
Public: 25 members of the public
Media: Redding Pilot
Mr. Alvarez called the Board of Finance Public Hearing to order at 7:04 pm.
Mrs. Ketcham called the Board of Selectmen to order at 7:04 pm.
The Redding Board of Education and Region #9 Board of Education did not have a quorum at this point.
Region #9 Board of Education:
Board chairman, Huntley Stone, presented information on the Region #9 operating budget planning for 2008-2009.
Mr. Gaspar (Redding Board of Education) arrived at 7:06. Mr. Lewson called the Redding Board of Education to order at 7:06 pm
Mr. Stone reported the Region #9 is just beginning deliberations on the operating budget. The beginning point, point of departure, is a 6.9% increase over the current operating budget. He anticipates that adjustments to the budget will lower the percentage increase. Budget drivers include a new AP course and related materials, an increase in the counseling staff summer hours and department chair hours, an increase in professional development geared to meeting new state and federal mandates, consideration of an athletic trainer, indoor track team, varsity boys’ swim team and various maintenance items. One additional teacher for Social Studies and a .5 science position are being considered.
Redding Board of Selectmen
First Selectman, Natalie Ketcham, reported the proposed operating budget for town departments represents a 3.7% increase over the current operating budget. Most of the increase is due to increasing fuel and electricity costs, and contractual obligations. The proposed budget includes an increase for roadway work to improve drainage and repair, and an increase in the Police Department clerk position from part-time to full-time effective January 2009. The Park and Recreation Department shows an increase in expenses due to increase in programming and the cost of organic materials required for the maintenance of the JRMS athletic fields, but most of the increase is offset by increases in revenue. The budget also includes an increase for the support of the Mark Twain Library.
Questions from the audience:
James Miller: question regarding whether the budget numbers included expenses & revenues from the anticipated development of the Georgetown Land Development project and a question regarding what constitutes a capital item outside the operating budget.. Controller Hutvagner responded that revenue & expense for the GLDC project were not included. Mr. Alvarez responded to the question regarding capital items. He stated that large project/expenditures are considered by the Long-Range Planning committee and recommendations are made to the Board of Finance. Criteria for what constitutes a capital expenditure are being re-evaluated by the committee and a recommendation will be presented to the Board of Finance. Currently the criteria include a minimum threshold of $100,000 and additional
requirements.
Cornelia Hurwitz: offered support for the Mark Twain Library funding.
Brad Muscott: questions regarding the additional time for the records clerk, the purchase of police vehicles, equipment/trucks for the Highway Department, and amount allocated for roadway repair. Mrs. Kearney (BOF) asked he thought the amount for roadway repair was too low or too high. He thought it was too high. Mrs. Ketcham responded to the questions regarding police vehicle replacement program, and the Highway Department equipment/truck purchases. She added that the road drainage work is necessary to prevent the roads from washing away and her office receives numerous calls regarding the condition of the town roads.
William Walsh: asked if the police department clerk position could be two part-time people rather than a full time position with benefits, or if a Dispatcher in the Communication Center could perform some of the clerk’s tasks during “down” time. Mrs. Ketcham responded that this is not practical as the Dispatcher must remain in the Communication Center. The quantity of paperwork for the Police Department has increased and must be completed to avoid legal issues.
Redding Board of Education
Chairman, David Lewson, presented information on the Redding Board of Education operating budget. Major budget drivers include an additional fifth grade section and .5FTE physical education teacher due to increasing enrollment in that grade, an early intervention program, & software for collecting and analyzing data. The increase over the current budget is 5.92%.
Questions from the audience
James Miller: question regarding the proposed software purchase. Mr. Lewson and Dr. Fossbender responded with an explanation of how the data would be used and why it is important.
Mr. Dolan(BOF) asked about enrollment trends. Dr. Fossbender reported enrollment in Redding is fairly even. He will provide the Enrollment Projection report to the board members.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Alvarez adjourned the meeting of the Board of Finance at 8:07 pm
Mrs. Miller adjourned the meeting of the Board of Selectmen at 8:07 pm
Mr. Lewson adjourned the meeting of the Redding Board of Education at 8:07 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Maday, Recording Secretary
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