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Town of Simsbury Board of Selectmen Minutes
These minutes are for informational purposes only. For official
minutes contact either the Town Clerk's office or the First Selectman's office.
BOARD OF FINANCE
BOARD
OF SELECTMEN
BOARD OF EDUCATION
JANUARY 18, 2000
JOINT MEETING
1. CALL TO ORDER
Paul Henault, Board of Finance Chairman, called the Joint Meeting of the
Board of Finance, Board of Selectmen and Board of Education to order at 7:25
p.m. in the Board of Education Conference Room of the Simsbury Town Offices.
The following were present: James Belfiore, Peter Askham, Candace Fitzpatrick,
Michael Wade, Mary Glassman, First Selectman Anita Mielert, Joel Mandell,
William Garrity, John Romano, Thomas Vincent, Madeleine Gilkey, Superintendent
of Schools Joseph Townsley, Mary Margaret Girgenti, Dominique Avery, Lydia
Tedone, Charles Moret, John O'Neil, David Holden, Business Manager and Kevin
Kane, Finance Director.
2. GUIDELINES FOR 2000/01 BUDGET
Mr. Henault stated that the BOF reviews the following economic factors to
assist in determining the budget guideline: COLA - 2.4%, CPI - 3%, Hartford
County wage increase - 3%, Connecticut unemployment - 3%, Simsbury unemployment
- 1.5% and Grand List growth - 2%. He noted that the budget factors include
wage increases, health benefit increases, maintenance, fuel costs and enrollment
driven costs. Mr. Henault stated that the BOF has decided on a 4% budget
guideline, based primarily upon economic factors. He pointed out that the
individual boards will need to present their cases for going above the
guideline, based upon budget factors. Mr. Henault stated that the BOF
discussion included the impact on taxpayers, the debt policy, capital budgets
and the high school project. He noted that the guideline takes a 7% debt policy
into account.
In response to Mr. Moret, Mr. Kane stated that a municipality with a AAA
rating should have a minimum of 8% in reserves. He stated that currently
Simsbury has 8% in reserves. He noted that Simsbury has been selling bonds at
the AAA rating level.
Mr. Henault stated that the BOF has not set a firm target for a tax
increase. He stated that last year the tax increase was 3.85%, which equated to
an additional $2.6 million in spending. Mr. Henault noted that members of the
BOF are not inclined to approve a tax increase beyond 4.75%-5%. In response to
Ms. Gilkey, Mr. Henault stated that the high school project has not been
included in these calculations.
3. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Garrity moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m. The motion was
seconded by Ms. Glassman and carried unanimously.
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