New Canaan's Budget Season Begins

When 's final budget for fiscal year 2012-2013 is done  said he expects, "the actual final and adopted budget to reflect a 0-2.5 percent growth rate of taxation over last year."

To get to zero, about $10 million will need to be eliminated from the initial budget requests. 

In a statement made before the first of two nights of department presentations before a joint session of the Board of Selectmen, Town Council and Board of Finance, Mallozzi said this draft includes items not, "previously addressed or (that) were avoided, but I feel they must be discussed and debated." He also said there would be a "lengthy discussion about the Board of Selectmen’s top priority, the funding of a new Town Hall and a Locust Avenue tiered-parking lot."

Mallozzi said there are several items causing the increases seen in these initial proposals, notably:

• More than $4 million in proposed capital expenditures, a more than 200 percent increase from last year.
• A 2.53 percent increase in the Board of Education's budget, or about $1.85 million.
• An actuarial recommendation to contribute more than $3 million to the town's pension fund, which is included below under "General Government."

Regarding the pension fund, said the plan is no longer more than 100 percent funded and it will be up to the town if they're comfortable with that in terms of the overall budget. "This is the number that's in the valuation," she said, and it was, "put in the budget so they can have a discussion and decide."

Department Requests

Category

2011 - 12

Approved Budget

2012-13

Proposed Budget

Percent

Change    

General Government $11,320,132 $14,508,960

+28.17%

Public Safety $9,305,777 $10,069,857 +4.97% Public Works $7,224,622 $7,302,282 +1.07% Recreation $1,436,530 $1,741,282 +21.21% Health & Human Services    $807,211 $853,388 +5.72% Human Services Agencies $179,000 $179,500 +0.28% Other Agencies $677,340 $691,342 +2.07% Operating Transfers $76,125 $76,125   0.00% Library $1,893,980 $1,981,882 +4.64% Board of Education * $73,122,500 $74,971,755 +2.53%

Total expenses for the fiscal year 2012-2013 in this draft, including operating, debt service and capital expenditures are $132,864,511. 

This week's presentations were a new approach to the kick-off of the budget process. Previously, town departments made their presentations three times, to each board individually.

Presentations will be followed by question and answer sessions with each board individually over the next few weeks.

The Board of Education is the exception to the process. They will present in several weeks, to each board in turn, as they've done in previous years.

A final adopted budget is expected in early spring.

A copy of the budget draft is available on the town's website. 

* Figures for the Board of Education budget are updated to reflect the presentation made by to the BOE on Mon. Jan 9.