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Board of Finance - Simsbury Budget and Capital Project Public Hearing minutes-4/8/15

Meeting date: 
Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Board of Finance

Simsbury Budget and Capital Project Hearing

April 8, 2015

 

---------- SUBJECT TO APPROVAL ----------

 

  1. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman called the Public Hearing of the Board of Finance to order at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 in the Amphitheatre at Simsbury High School, 34 Farms Village Road, Simsbury, Connecticut. 

 

PRESENT: Peter Askham, Nicholas Mason, Barbara Petitjean, Linda Schofield, Jeff Blumenthal and Moira Wertheimer 

 

  1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

  1. OPENING REMARKS: P. Askham thanked SCTV for televising this event, Superintended Matt Curtis and the Board of Education members for doing a great job, First Selectman Lisa Heavner on doing a great job on her first budget, and the town staff.

 

  1. PRESENTATIONS

 

  1. Budget Overview – Board of Finance: P. Askham discussed the primary jobs of the Board of Finance, which includes setting goals, establishing the mil rate, fiscal oversight, etc. Major goals for this budget include to lowering or creating a flat mill rate, maintaining AAA rating, keeping debt service under 7%, ensuring Simsbury Farms is fiscally stable, ensuring long-term fiscal discipline, and use of the Fund Balance to lower taxes. P. Askham provided a review of the Operating Budget Expenditures, proposed FY2016 Budget, Operating Budgets Revenue, estimated revenues, the impacts of Fund Balance policies and more. Overall, there is a tax decrease, sewer fees are remaining the same and capital as presented, will be under the 7% debt policy, which will not cause a tax increase.

 

  1. Board of Education Operating Budget: M. Goman provided a brief overview of the budget process and the FY2016 proposed budget. The overview of the budget included operational efficiencies utilized in the proposed budget, K-12 Staffing, return on investment (i.e., schools), ongoing efforts to mitigate cost, program improvements and more.

 

  1. Town Operating Budget: L. Heavner thanked members of the Board of Selectmen for their efforts during the budget process, along with the Director of Finance and other staff members. L. Heavner informed everyone that the Town of Simsbury recently received a STEEP Grant in the amount of $150,000 from the State of Connecticut in order to complete the construction of the Simsbury Veteran’s Memorial. Three main goals were incorporated into the proposed FY2016 budget, which included maintaining fiscal responsibility by delivering quality services in the most cost-effective manner, ensuring responsible stewardship of our natural resources and town assets, and providing modern technology to provide transparency, increase efficiencies and meet future needs. L. Heavner discussed the primary cost drivers of the budget, what tax dollars are paying for, aspects of the Operating Budget and Capital Budget, and more.

 

  1. Capital Non-Recurring and Capital Budget Presentations: J. Shea provided a brief overview of Capital programs, which included Simsbury Farms, Open Space Planning and Improvements, the Weatogue Planning Route 10 and Code Preparation Work, the Highway Salt Shed replacement, municipal building renovations and more. B. LaClair discussed the three projects for the Board of Education for the 2015-2016 CIP year, which includes the District Network Infrastructure, Central School roof and climate control improvements.

 

 

  1. PUBLIC AUDIENCE ON OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS

 

Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive: Ms. Coe stated that there is an additional $2,740,000 for capital improvement projects that is approved by the Board of Finance, not by the tax payers at referendum and should be included in the operating budget not capital improvement projects that are bonded. Urges the Board of Finance to review these line-items and review for compliance with police and move many of these expenditures into the operating budget or removed completely. Ms. Coe is concerned with state mandates and the education being taught in the school system; she believes that changes need to be made and all mandates should be evaluated yearly.

 

Robert Kalechman, Simsbury: Mr. Kalechman stated that the budget has many issues and read an article from the Hartford Courant, pertaining to tonight’s public hearing. He feels there are many issues that were not addressed in the budget, as well many items that should have been removed all together.

 

Debbie Driscoll, 10 Kings Road: Ms. Driscoll asked the taxpayers to support the Board of Education budget, which supports a decrease in the mil rate, as well as support the improvements to Simsbury Farms.

 

David Bush, 4 Catherine Lane: Mr. Bush feels the budget is rather responsible and dollars have been spent wisely to maintain town equipment, and agrees with the work being done at Simsbury Farms, which supports the goals of the Master Plan.

 

Paul Simeon, 33 West Mountain Road: Mr. Simeon wanted to thank the Boards for all of their hard work, and expressed Simsbury Youth Hockey’s support of the proposed improvements to the warming house area of Simsbury Farms.

 

  1. MODERATOR/PRESENTER

 

P. Askham closed the Public Hearing at 7:36 p.m.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Renee Narducci, Commission Clerk