Budgets Presented to the Board of Finance March 15

The board of selectmen and the board of education will present their budgets to the board of finance tonight — March 15 — starting at 6 p.m. in town hall. The board of finance had given budget guidelines of a 1 percent decrease in spending, no increase or 1 percent increase.

The board of education approved its proposed 2011-2012 budget of $62,797,320 March 8. That's an increase of $954,991 or 1.54 percent over the current budget.

Superintendent of Schools Diane Ullman said the budget focus was to be fiscally responsible and continue the high return on investment the school system provides. The increase is due mostly to employees contracts, insurance and pension issues. Of the 75 major budget accounts 51 have no increase.

The education board also approved the proposed $524,208 2011-2012 non-public school budget, which represents and increase of $4,584 or 0.88 percent. This is money that goes toward items such as transportation for residents who attend private school within the community, as mandated by state law.

For more information go to the board of education's website budget page or click here.

The board of selectmen approved its proposed 2011-2012 $17,860,913 budget on February 28. That number represents an increase of 0.21 percent or $36,961 above the current budget.

The 0.21 percent increase means there will be no payoffs. Positions funded by grants were allowed to lapse once funding ended. Seletmen had in mind the neediest in town when formulating this budget and expressed appreciation that the various departments held the line on their budgets.

Selectman Robert Hensley said the departments did their work to keep budgets tight as is reflected in the proposed increase.

“To do that requires them to cut their budgets to the bare bones,” he said, noting that for the past several years this has been the case.

For more information go to the Town of Simsbury's website budget page or click here.

The finance board will hold its public hearing on the proposed budget on April 5 in the high school auditorium at 7:30 p.m. After the board of finance approves the budget, there will be a town meeting and finally a referendum in May.