Council Finalizes .87 Percent Budget Increase for 2012-2013

The town council approved a .87 percent budget increase in a 6-1 vote on Tuesday night, sending a $51,362,234 budget to the voters for the May 1 referendum. 

The budget increase differs from the because the town council utilized . Town Manager Steven Werbner said that the money will replace the $60,000 that would have come from the general fund, therefore reducing the original proposed tax burden.

According to documents provided at the meeting, the General Fund Contribution for Capital Improvements line item was reduced from the original $231,877 to $171,877.

Council member Sam Belsito voted against the budget, saying that Republican council members failed to deliver on a promise for a zero percent budget increase.

"I have to apologize to all the people that voted for us, because we made a statement that there would be a zero increase in the budget," he said. Belsito said that the council came close to reaching a zero budget.

"We could have done that. We just had to look at a few more items and make some cuts. It's what we should have done, because that's what we had promised," he said.

Fellow Republican council member Mark Gill responded that while a zero percent increase was a goal of the council, it was never an election promise.

"I remember very clearly that we were running on a fiscally responsible budget," he said. "We did rally around that [zero percent] as a goal. It only worked because we had the counter goal there, as well," he said, referring to a council aim to preserve current town services.

Council member Josh Freeman addressed statements from some residents that they would be willing to pay more taxes in order to better fund education and town services.

"I'm sensitive to the feedback to have more," he said. "I have children in the schools that are going to be affected by any cuts in the budget."

However, he said that he supports the finalized budget.

"I'm proud to put this out and ask you to vote on it and to move forward." Freeman said. "I'm committed to making the budget process better."

There will be a budget presentation on April 24 at Tolland High School and April 25 at the senior center. The budget referendum is on May 1. 

For full budget coverage, check out the .