Town Council OKs $50.1M Budget, Building Projects

Ledyard residents will see some big ticket items on the ballot this spring. Voters will have the opportunity to cast a Yay or Nay vote for the town’s budget, which includes a tax increase, the renovation of the middle school and the new police station.

On Wednesday, the Town Council approved the appropriation of $45,000,000 for the design and renovation of the Ledyard Middle School and the appropriation of $6,750,000 for the design and construction of a new police station.

Councilor Wadecki voiced strong concern about the price of the middle school renovation and said the $45 million price tag made her gasp.

“I almost fell out of my chair when I first saw the number,” she said.

Councilor Bill Saums, didn’t oppose the price as much as the closure of Ledyard Center School and the impact that may have on businesses.

“I’m just going to vote no because I think we should look a little more carefully at what we’re doing to the town,” said Saums. “It (the cost) pales by comparison to what we’re going to do to the businesses in Ledyard Center. If it closes a business in Ledyard Center, what have we done?”

Chairman Linda Davis also was not overly supportive of the school project because of its cost, especially after comparing it to the Waterford High School renovation which cost $67 million for almost double the amount of work, she said. 

“I lost sleep last night over this after comparing it to the Waterford number,"  said Davis. “I know our building committee didn’t spend more than 1 hour looking at this.”

The motion passed with 8 yays and one nay from Councilor Saums. The motion allows the town to spend up to $45 million on the project, whether it will cost that much or not, is yet to be determined.

The council set the date for a special town meeting on both the building projects for 7 p.m. on May 7 in the Ledyard High School auditorium to adjourn to a referendum to be held on May 21 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The council also adopted fiscal year 2013-14 budget in the amount of $50,136,531, which is comprised of a general government budget of $20,442,567 and a Board of Education budget of $29,693,964. The $50.1 million budget will increase the tax rate by a little less than three-tenths of a mill.

The council set the date for a public hearing on the town budget for April 22 at 7 p.m. in the Ledyard High School auditorium. The annual town meeting to discuss the budget is set for 7:30 p.m. on May 20 in the same location, and will adjourn to a referendum from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. the following day.