Politics & Government

Town Manager Shares Budget Summary, Concerns

Town Manager Steven Werbner presented a budget overview, as well as the individual budgets of the Planning and Community Development, Public Safety and Law Enforcement departments.

Town Manager Steven Werbner walked the town council through his proposed budget overview and discussed the individual budgets of the Planning and Building, Public Safety and Law Enforcement departments in the first of three scheduled budget discussions on Wednesday night.

Werbner highlighted some crucial factors in determining the 2012-2013 budget, which calls for a 1.04 percent tax increase, equivalent to a .31 mill increase.

  • The town is projected to generate $12,337,775 in revenue. This is an increase from 2011/2012:$12,180,050, but a decrease from 2010/2011: $12,412,376.
  • Town expenditures are proposed to increase .74 percent this year. Previous expenditures were; -2.4 percent in 2009/2010, -.05 percent in 2010/2011, and 1.36 percent in 2011/2012.
  • Board of Education expenditures are slated to increase 3 percent. Previous budgets were: 2009/2010: 0 percent; 2010/2011: 1 percent; 2011/2012: 2.53 percent.
  •  Werbner noted that Tolland, once the fastest growing town in the state, has seen considerably less grand list growth in recent years. The numbers from the last few years are: 2009/2010: .81 percent; 2010/2011: .75 percent; 2011/2012: 1.10 percent; 2012/2013: .
  • Werbner is proposing a 1.04 percent tax increase this year. In 2009/2010 taxes decreased .07 percent; 2010/2011 a decrease of 1.15 percent; 2011/2012 increase of 1.99 percent.
  • The total budget, amounting to $51,422,234 for the whole town is broken down to: Education: 69.43 percent; Municipal Operating: 21.09 percent; Capital: .45 percent and Debt Service: 9.03 percent.

Werbner's summary also hit upon certain numbers that will impact the school board and tax payers.

Find out what's happening in Tollandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • The proposed 3 percent school board budget increase will require a reduction of $568,617 from the . However, the proposed town manager's budget increased school board expenditures by $1,039,871 from the current fiscal year budget.
  • Under the current proposed budget, property taxes for Tolland residents would increase by: $38 for low assessed range; $61 for moderate assessed range and $117 for high assessed range

Werbner also expressed concern for the overall health of the town's general fund. He explained that the fund must have enough money to equal 10 to 15 percent of town expenditures for the town to maintain its AA financial rating. 

However, Werbner said that the amount of money being put into the fund has dropped considerably from previous years. A former town council changed the projected tax collection rate from 98.7 percent to 99 percent, meaning that the town is budgeting its expenditures based on a 99 percent tax collection rate.

Find out what's happening in Tollandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When the town would budget for a 98.7 percent collection rate, Werbner explained that the actual collection rate frequently turned out to be higher, so excess money would be deposited into the general fund, causing its growth into the 10 to 15 percent range that prompted .

Werbner expressed concern that, at the current rate, the general fund could drop significantly. He suggested that the council discuss the issue in the future.

Werbner also provided a list of proposed fee increases to pump up town revenue, including higher DVD late fees, building permit fees, etc. A full list can be seen on the town's website.

Residents can also view the department budget overviews on the town's site with detailed breakdowns:

Planning and Community Development

Public Safety and Law Enforcement

The next budget discussion is scheduled for March 20 at 7:30 p.m. at town hall. Check out for upcoming budget dates.


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