$18 Million Budget Approved by Simsbury Selectmen

The Simsbury Board of Selectmen voted to approve an increased budget during a special budget workshop Tuesday night.

When First Selectman Mary Glassman first presented the town's budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year it showed a .5 percent increase over last year’s budget at $18.13 million. Through the budget workshops, town officials decided two spending increases were necessary: public works and public safety.

WATCH: The Simsbury Community Television video of the March 19 budget workshop in our media gallery.

Currently, the Simsbury Police Department has one officer assigned to Simsbury High School. In the wake of the Newtown shootings, officials have decided to add an additional officer to be assigned to the town's elementary and middle schools.

An increase was also approved for the town's public works department. The spending increase will add an additional $27,000 to the budget.

The board postponed a vote on the budget last week to make time for further review of the proposed increases.

The Simsbury board of finance will schedule two public hearings on this year's budget before the budget referendum on May 14.