Tolland Budget Proposed at $51.8 Million for the 2013-14 Fiscal Year

The Town Council has before it a $51.8 millon budget proposal for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

The first council budget workshop of the season is scheduled for tonight at 7:30 at the Hicks Municipal Center.

The bottom line delivered to council members by Town Manager Steven Werbner is $51,844,725. That is a jump of $482,491 from this year's adopted spending plan and a percentage increase of 0.94 percent.

Werbner said $357,000 of the increase is from the Board of Education's $36,059,250 proposal.

That is a 1 percent increase.

General government is going up just $62,515 in Werbner's spending plan, a 0.58 percent increase. The bottom line on the municipal side is  $10,907,859.

Debt service totals $4,735,625, an increase of $92,840, or 2 percent.

Werbner has set aside $141,991 for capital improvements. That is $29,886 less than this year's capital budget.

"It's a responsible budget recommendation for these economic times," Werbner said.

In the budget proposal:

• The Zoning enforcement officer's position is eliminated.

• The assistant director of recreation position is gone.

• One truck driver will not be replaced when the current one retires.

• A reduction in bulky waste pickups to six months per year on an every other month basis is proposed.

• Street sweeping is eliminated for the second straight year.

• Funds for over-seeding school board fields are out.

• There is no revaluation contribution.

• Hours are reduced at the Crandall Park swimming pool.

Click here for the full online budget summary.