Hebron town manager’s proposed budget hikes spending 5.35%
By David Huck
Journal Inquirer
Published: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 11:08 AM EST
HEBRON — Town Manager Andrew J. Tierney is recommending a $35.58 million budget for 2013-14, a plan that raises spending by 5.35 percent, or $1.8 million, over current levels.
Under the plan, spending for the RHAM school system would go up $1.27 million, town government spending would rise $260,683, and funding for the local school system would go up $277,138. The tax rate would increase by 5.78 percent under the plan.
Tierney is calling the plan a “continuation” budget and says it includes no new initiatives. He has proposed several cost-savings measures such as eliminating a part-time clerical position in the assessor’s office, “cross training and consolidation of positions,” sharing a zoning enforcement officer with Columbia, and regionalizing animal control services.
In an interview Tuesday, Tierney declined to comment on the proposal before it is presented to town officials on Thursday other than to say it’s a “fluid document” and that he hopes the request can be lowered.
The majority of the increase in spending is attributable to the RHAM budget, as more Hebron students are expected to attend the school system next year. Even if RHAM Superintendent of Schools Robert Siminski’s $26.45 million proposal, which represents a 5.66 percent increase, were revised to flat spending, Hebron’s share would still go up $453,543.
The town’s share will also increase next year but decline in the year after.
Other substantial areas of increases include health, liability, and workers’ compensation insurance, as well as a rise in fuel costs and contractual obligations.
Funding has also been included to restore services cut in the spring: expanded library and transfer station hours.
Open-space funding would go up $27,000 for a total of $100,000, while contributions to the capital improvements program would rise by 33 percent to $558,325 under the proposal.
Tierney put the budget together with interim Finance Director Elaine Griffin and executive assistant Donna Lanza.
“We would like to thank our department heads for sharpening their pencils and becoming creative in preparing their budgets,” the trio said in a memo to town leaders. “Some difficult decisions have been made in preparing this budget, but overall we feel we are presenting a responsible general government budget which the taxpayers of Hebron will be able to support.”
Around $1.6 million in new taxes, an increase in state aid, and a drop in debt management will offset some of the spending increases. A new energy program that replaced some outdated equipment with more efficient ones is also expected to bring some savings.
But to fund the budget, the mill rate would have to rise by 5.78 percent.
Tierney will present the budget to the Board of Selectmen on Thursday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the community room of the Douglas Library.
The town has established an email account,
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for residents to send comments about the budget to town leaders.
“There are challenges to be dealt with as we work to prepare a budget to present at referendum that all voters can support, while maintaining adequate town services and continued high educational standards,” the budget team said. “It will take compromise and effort on the part of all involved board members and the public.”
