Thursday, April 26, 2012 10:47 PM EDT
BRISTOL ? The city?s Board of Finance unanimously agreed Wednesday on a $177 million spending plan that would hike property taxes nearly 6 percent.
Finance Chairman Rich Miecznikowski said the focus during budget preparations was to maintain municipal services ?while maintaining the city?s strong financial condition.?
The budget maintains education spending at last year?s level ? a level that hasn?t changed much in four years ? but officials said that educators can pay $1 million less for health care, freeing up cash for other uses, and tap some of the excess bond money from construction projects to buy books and other equipment for the new schools.
That?s still considerably less than the $3.1 million in additional funding sought by educators, perhaps opening the door to more layoffs and making it less likely that music and lacrosse programs that many are seeking to preserve will wind up with the money they are seeking.
Falling short in funding is going to have ?a dramatic impact? on the ability of Bristol schools to ensure all children achieve to their capacity, said Chris Wilson, chairman of the Board of Education.
He said he understands the difficulty the city faces in such dire economic times, but shortchanging schools isn?t the answer.
While education spending is remaining level, the allocation for municipal departments and needs is slated to rise by $5.6 million under the finance panel?s budget. Much of that increase, though, is to make debt payments on the two new schools scheduled to open at summer?s end.
To provide the required funds, property taxes are slated to go up to 28.75 mils, an increase of nearly 6 percent.
?We don?t enjoy raising taxes,? Miecznikowski said, but ?we felt by doing so we have solved a structural problem we had this year, and next year should be more solvent.?
He said that making ?severe budget cuts? would decimate ?essential services, causing great harm to the city?s economy? and perhaps undermining the growth necessary to build Bristol?s tax base.
The city had a gap of nearly $11 million between its anticipated revenue and spending requests. New property tax revenues from the mil rate increase will bring in about $7 million to help close the gap.
Much of the rest is coming from tapping money already set aside in special funds.
Miecznikowski said he hopes the school board will consider using some of the school funds to cover the lacrosse and music requests.
The budget won?t become final until it is approved by a joint session of the City Council and finance commissioners on May 21. The city?s fiscal year starts July 1.
Steve Collins can be reached at (860) 584-0501, ext. 7254, or at scollins@bristolpress.com.
The figures
Total budget ? $176.9 million
School budget ? $102.7 million
Municipal budget ? $74.2 million
New mil rate ? 28.75
Mil hike ? 1.51
Budget year starts July 1
Our valued readers,
As you see we're now requiring anyone wishing to post a comment to register first. That registration includes first and last name, user name, and e-mail address. We will not send advertising or any other unsolicited material. We're simply working to curtail the number of comments that a reasonable person would find offensive or objectionable, such as ones containing profanity or threatening language. Please use our forum as an opportunity for spirited debate - just be civil and observe the golden rule.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: | Become a Registered User |
phantom of the opera agoraphobia andrew lloyd webber obscura
কোন মন্তব্য নেই:
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন