Cheshire Council Approves Spending Plan for Fiscal 2015-16

The average Cheshire taxpayer will see a $100 tax increase following the approval of a $105.6 million budget Tuesday night that increases overall town spending by 2.15 percent for the 2015-16 fiscal year, according to the Cheshire Citizen.

The council approved the general government portion of the budget by a 6-2 vote with Republicans James Sima and Tom Ruocco voting against it, according to Luther Turmelle of the New Haven Register.

The school budget passed by a 5-3 vote with Republican David Schrumm joining Sima and Ruocco as saying “no” to the $68.32 million spending plan, according to Turmelle.

The council did not support new full-time positions in Town Hall proposed by Town Manager Michael Milone, however, some jobs such as senior social services and Sunday library hours were expanded, according to the Citizen.

Council chairman Tim Slocum, a Republican, told Turmelle that he was pleased the Republican majority and Democratic minority were able to work together and avoid a contentious debate while putting together a budget that is the “lowest mill rate increase we’ve had in five years.”

Read more at the New Haven Register here and the Cheshire Citizen here.

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