Proposed West Hartford Budget Cuts
School, Town Jobs
March 10, 2010
WEST HARTFORD
A proposed $219.1 million budget that officials say reflects
the anemic reality of recession was given to the town council Tuesday night for
review.
If adopted as submitted by Town Manager Ronald Van Winkle, the 2010-11 budget would require a 3.6 percent hike in the tax rate to
38.91 mills, effective July 1. Town officials who put together the proposal
said the money sought will allow the town to continue essential services, meet
contractual obligations and maintain property, without any new services or
programs.
It will be several years until the town sees an end to severe revenue shortages
caused by the national recession, which began in late 2007 and probably hit
bottom last year, Van Winkle said.
The proposal eliminates 27 school and five town government positions to hold
down expenses.
What the actual budget will be when adopted in late April is not clear, because
the town council and the board of education will be busy in the next six weeks
analyzing their portions of the budget, making any changes they deem necessary.
Council members asked a few questions about the proposal, which they received
just before the meeting. Mayor Scott Slifka said the
council and the school board will be checking the proposals in meetings and
will seek public comment in hearings next month.
"People can attend the subcommittee meetings to discuss the proposal, go
to the hearings, send us e-mails, call or write us," Slifka
said. Council hearings on the proposal are scheduled for April 6 at 2 p.m. and
April 8 at 6 p.m. in town hall.
The town council is scheduled to adopt a final budget in late April and set a
tax rate.
Van Winkle said the proposed budget continues a town hiring freeze, travel
restrictions and other steps imposed a year ago to contain costs as the
recession deepened.
The school portion of the proposal is $121.92 million, up $4.2 million from the
current education budget. The town government portion is $65.8 million, up
$1.29 million for the current budget.
The long-term liability portion — for town and school pensions, retiree health
care and capital financing — is $31.4 million, up $3.22 million.
The plan seeks $8.73 million more than the current $212.5 million budget. Most
of the increase is sought to make up for decreased investment, state aid and
other non-tax revenues and to cover increased wage, pension and health costs.
About 20 adults and schoolchildren attended the council meeting, planning to
protest proposed cuts in the district's K-5 world language program.
But council rules barred them from speaking because the public hearings on the
budget give them a chance to state their views.