Shelton and Derby Close to Setting Budgets

SHELTON, CT — Both Shelton and Derby are in the final phases of approving their respective municipal budgets.

Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti has proposed a $123.3 million budget, which is up $1 million from the previous year, according to the CT Post. A boost in the grand list would allow the town to reduce the mill rate from 22.31 to 22.21.

Derby's budget proposal is $41.9 million, also up about $1 million.

The big question is what the state will do in terms of municipal funding. Gov. Dannel Malloy's most recent budget proposal would effectively boost state aid to Derby by $5.2 million compared to last year. Shelton would effectively lose more than $10 million. The large change in state aid has been met with opposition from several legislators.

Malloy overall has proposed boosting aid to some of the more needy communities while those with lower mill rates would see a sharp decrease. He also proposed having towns pick up one third the cost of teacher pensions.

Read the full Post report here.

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