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ENFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2004
A Special Meeting of the Enfield Town Council was called to order by Chairman Tallarita in the Council Chambers of the Enfield Town Hall, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut on Monday, April 5, 2004. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.
ROLL-CALL - Present were Councilmen Dodd, Edgar, Egan, Fiore, Kaupin, Mangini, Peruta, Reveruzzi, Tait and Tallarita. Councilman Crowley entered at 6:40 p.m. Also present were Town Manager, Scott Shanley; Assistant Town Manager, Daniel Vindigni; Town Clerk, Suzanne Olechnicki; Town Attorney, Christopher Bromson; Director of Finance, Gregory Simmons; Director of Public Works, John Kazmarski; Assistant Director of Public Works, Colleen Brand; Director of Information Technology, Charlene Bond; EMS Manager, Gary Wiemokly
PRESENTATION OF PROPOSED 2004-2005 ANNUAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET (OVERVIEW/PROCESS CLARIFICATION/QUESTIONS)
Mr. Shanley made the following presentation:
This budget has an expense increase of 2.31%, and this is a combined budget increase for the School Department and Town budget, which includes the capital budget. The capital budget includes some school financing. The two-year average increase for this budget is 1.6%, which is slightly below what social security has done for its cost of living adjustment in the last two years.
The dollar increase for the total budget is $102,688,783. The current mil rate is 33.43 and the proposed mil rate would be 34.97, or a 4.6% increase in the mil rate.
Revenue Projections
The Appropriations Committee at the Legislature has already voted on a counter budget to the Governor's proposed budget, and that budget offers more funds available to municipalities, specifically to Enfield than the Governor's budget does. The Governor's budget is used for revenue projections because that is the conservative and appropriate thing to do for the presentation of the budget. Towards the middle of May when the Council is ready to make a final decision on the budget, the Council makes a political judgment as to what the difference is between the Appropriations Committee and the Governor and where the talks are going and they'll make a judgment as to what the right number is to use.
The statewide car value drop--$8.5 million dollars was lost in used car values. This is a phenomenon across the entire state. Because of the flood of leased vehicles, the value of used cars has really been depressed. This loss offset most of the real estate improvement, therefore, they're flat on the growth.
There's a continued retreat from the state and local partnership in a number of areas:
" the state passed a law allowing for a veterans' exemption at the local level - the state would provide for a reimbursement to the Town, but they backed off that and cut that by $60,000
" the DARE program used to get $50,000 per year - they eliminated the DARE program
" Machinery and Equipment - this was an economic development tool of the state whereby they offered businesses protection from property taxes on machinery and equipment and in lieu of that they would pay the Town the amount of money that the Town would have made had the Town been allowed to tax that property. The state backed off of that commitment, and as a result the Town is losing $146,000 this year. This would basically shift that economic development incentive and the cost of that from the State to the local property tax.
" A similar situation relates to telephone access--an economic development tool - they developed a depreciation schedule and as a result of that depreciation schedule, they're down $115,000 compared to last year--the local property tax would have to make up the difference.
" PILOT (Payment-In-Lieu-Of-Taxes) - they're down $75,000.
The total of the above has the Town down by $446,000 compared to two years ago.
Another big issue is that there will be even fewer interest earnings in the upcoming budget as was shown in the current budget. Interest earnings are down $750,000 the last three years.
$1.1 million dollars of Reserves will be used this year. This has to be reversed significantly next year.
Expense Considerations (Town)
" The budget, as approved last year, did not include leaf vacuuming, therefore, that is a new expense compared to last year - +$200,000
" Improved Road Maintenance Program - millions of dollars have been invested in road reconstruction and the Town needs to do a better job in maintenance of roads - +$136,000
" Condo trash operation/wash CIP - +$125,000
" Propose swap to invest in GIS - The IT Department proposes having this position half a year this year at no cost because the IT Director agreed to give up half another position, therefore, it's a wash with no cost this year. There would be a cost next year.
" Health insurance, CRRA tipping fees, and utilities are up and all of the Town's bargaining units have increases
Two Police Department positions have been unfrozen. The freezing of these two positions resulted in a short term cost savings. These positions were frozen in reaction to the Governor withdrawing $600,000 of promised funds mid-year in the previous budget. Those positions were hard-fought and thoroughly debated over the years and they are legitimate and justified. If the Council does not want to add back the funding for these two positions, it's suggested looking at services that are provided and determine whether cuts can be made in areas such as the DARE Program (the state pulled the funding on that program); SRO's, Pearl Street Library, Recycling Program, Records Management, Web Site, Risk Management, EMS.
Mr. Shanley stated they have a two-year average of 1.6% increase per year. He noted this is very important because they're using Reserves and it demonstrates that they're not using Reserves to grow the budget nor add programs, but rather they are holding very tightly in check the expense side of the budget. He stated his belief that's the responsible thing to do when they're using Reserves.
Mr. Shanley stated his belief they need to examine service levels for true longer term savings if they're looking to bring down the expense side even more. He stated his feeling it's very important that they recognize that this is the last year that they can use over a million dollars in Reserves. He stated if they reduce taxes this year, then it's that much revenue which will not be available next year when the Reserves that they've used begins to drop off.
He stated it's important to look ahead a few years when putting together the budget over that period of time and understand actions they take this year will impact future budgets. He noted over-utilization of Reserves would make it harder in the next couple years.
Councilman Mangini referred to the GIS position and questioned whether they have the funding or software capability of actually conducting the GIS service. Mr. Shanley stated they do not have the software yet, but they have the funding in place for it. He explained it's a very labor intensive process to get the GIS going. He noted what they don't have is a position to accomplish that, and this is what has held them up every year. He explained this position takes the data from each department and insures that it can talk to the data from other departments, put them together and relate them all to a parcel on a map.
Chairman Tallarita expressed his appreciation to the Town Manager and staff for putting this budget proposal together. Mr. Shanley commended the various departments for their help with this budget process.
RESOLUTION #7088 by Councilman Kaupin, seconded by Councilman Mangini.
RESOLVED, that the Town Council of the Town of Enfield values the opinions and comments of its constituents; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Chapter VI, Section 4, of the Enfield Town Charter, any elector or taxpayer may have an opportunity to be heard regarding appropriations for the ensuing fiscal years and for the purpose of being heard on issues of vital community importance and concern; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council shall conduct a public hearing at the John F. Kennedy Middle School on Raffia Road, Wednesday, April 28, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. and
RESOLVED, that the order of business of the 2004-2005 budget hearing be arranged as follows:
1. Presentation of the Town Manager's Budget.
2. The Chairman of the Board of Education highlights Education Budget.
3. Comments from members of the public for the first time.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that each speaker be requested to register with the Town Clerk his name and address and that no speaker be allowed to speak more than five minutes each successive time the speaker's name is called. Additionally, any speaker who has not registered with the Town Clerk will be allowed to speak only after those who have registered no longer wish to speak.
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared RESOLUTION #7088 adopted 11-0-0.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION #7089 by Councilman Fiore, seconded by Councilman Mangini to adjourn.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #7089 adopted 11-0-0, and the meeting stood adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
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