Marcia Chambers Photo
A projected $97.9 million town and school budget, along with a projected higher mill rate, means higher property taxes for residents this year unless the Board of Finance (BOF) makes cuts to both the town and Board of Education budgets. The mill rate will be set in May.
In addition, the town’s new grand list information, along with the list of top taxpayers in Branford –Developer Alex Vigliotti is in first place — -arrived as the BOF begins its work tonight on the town’s proposed 2012 – 13 budget. This is the start of BOF’s week of budget hearings where the town’s department heads outline their economic needs.
The BOF meets tonight, tomorrow night and on Thursday when the Board of Education and the town’s libraries on Thursday outline their requests. Next Monday, March 26, the BOF holds a work session at Canoe Brook where numbers get crunched. All hearings begin at 7 p.m. at Canoe Brook Senior Center.
Last year’s Branford’s budget came in at $93.6 million. The projected budget is $97.9 million, a 4.59 percent increase, but this includes the Board of Education’s budget, which for the first time in history topped $50 million. Much can happen between now and the final figure. The mill rate adopted last year came in at 24.27 and next year’s is projected to be 25.43. If history is any guide, both the budget and the mill rate will decrease by the time the BOF sets the actual mill rate two months from now. The final mill rate determines an individual’s property taxes.
The proposed 2012 – 13 budget outlines the town’s priorities and required obligations, typically over a five year period. At this juncture priorities center on bonding projects that include a new public works building and new roofs for two public schools, technology and communications changes at both the town and police level and updates at the town Green.
The town is also negotiating new contracts with the town’s fire department and town employees, including public works, park and recreation and custodial employees. Their current contracts end June 30, 2012. This means there will be additional salary raises over the next three years. The police department’s contract has a year to go. Its current union contract calls for a 3 percent increase in 2012 – 13. In the proposed town budget, town department heads, who are not unionized, are slated for a 2.9 percent increase.
Last year First Selectman Unk DaRos told town department heads to try to hold the line and he set a goal of no more than a 2 percent increase across the board. This year he told the Eagle it is likely to be somewhat higher. “Everything is going up. Fuel and utilities are going up. I am trying to hold the total town budget down. I would like it to be two percent but that may be impossible.”
GRAND LIST
The town’s grand list, the economic engine of the town, grew by $14.7 million this year to $3.46 billion, about a half percent increase over last year. Town officials said the slight increase was a good omen given the state of the economy and the property devastation that resulted from Hurricane Irene last fall.
In the aftermath of the hurricane, which hit Branford’s beach front houses hard, Barbara Neal, the town assessor and her staff, examined the destruction up and down the long Branford coastline and then made tax revisions that are reflected in the current grand list.
Based on the economy and these additional factors, Neal said, “Branford is very fortunate to have a slight increase in the grand list.”
DaRos agreed. He said he was glad the grand list went up, however small the increase. “In this economy an increase is good,” he said. “In this economy it is very difficult to have the grand list grow. Very difficult.”
The grand list is a yearly compilation of values on all real estate, personal property (typically business equipment), and motor vehicle values. The real estate increase came in at about $6.4 million. Vigliotti’s Founders Village development will be added to the town’s tax rolls in the next year or two.
Last year’s motor vehicle values rose by 3.33 percent over the previous year. This year it rose by 5.55 percent over last year. In dollar figures, the motor vehicle net grand list rose by $11.4 million, which may mean residents are purchasing more expensive cars.
Christine Svenningsen, who through her companies owns 10 Thimble Islands off Stony Creek, is the town’s second-highest taxpayer. Connecticut Light & Power came in third.
####