Politics & Government

School Budget Shortfall Blamed For Tax Rate Increase

Spending in technology and police department planned.

Mayor John Rodolico’s proposed town budget is almost one-fifth of a percent more than the budget voters approved for the 2011-2012. The $49.2 million budget is 0.17 percent more than the current budget and results in a 0.28 mill increase in the tax rate. The mayor attributes this to a $703,000 dollar funding gap in the education budget, according to the mayor.

The mayor proposed general government expenditures of $19,671,077. The proposed school budget is $29,544,964. The two total $49,216,041.

If approved, the town’s tax rate in fiscal year 2012-13 would be 28.21 mills.

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This is Rodolico’s first budget as mayor of the Town of Ledyard and the biggest challenge, he said, was .

“Federal and state revenue increased by almost $300,000,” Rodolico said, “but this was offset by the loss of $703,000 in stimulus grants.”

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Rodolico said he began creating the spending plan knowing that the tax rate may increase by as much as three-fourths of a mill, due to the school budget shortfall.

He said that spending levels are nearly identical to the current year’s budget but the loss of education funds is a lot to make up for and he asked his staff to do what they could to bring him a zero-increase budget.

“The main thing was that I spoke with my staff and indicated that we had to work hard to submit a flat budget,” he said. “Our department heads worked very hard to look at their operations and bring in a budget that was as close to zero as possible.”

Rodolico said it was a help that he could keep labor costs to a minimum. He said department heads and some union groups did not receive raises, while other union groups received a two-percent raise.

“We were already starting out with approximately three-quarters of a mill increase…how can we do the things we need to do in terms of capital investment, technology and providing services and still not add to that deficit.”

Additional Expenditures

Rodolico will ask taxpayers to fund the positions for a new zoning enforcement official, an office assistant and one “floater” position in town hall that will replace part-time positions in the offices of the town clerk, assessor and tax collector.

The budget also proposes $85,000 in additional spending for “critical road repairs, emergency services equipment, future vehicle purchase and technology enhancements.”

And, he requested $75,000 to move the to the former Gales Ferry School but he anticipates $25,000 in grants for the move and $50,000 could be funded by the .

“The facility that the police have now is inadequate and it would require significant investment to both maintain that building and keep it operating for a while,” he said of the current police building at 11 Lorenz Parkway.

“Having a police presence in there would will have a positive effect on that entire area,” he said. “It’s an investment not just in that building but it’s investment also in that area.”

Rodolico’s hope is that the entire police department and 9-1-1 dispatch will be relocated.


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