Simsbury Board of Finance April 16, 2024 Budget Hearing

Board of Finance Meeting April 16, 2024

As a Simsbury resident over the years, I have witnessed many budgets that have been approved by the taxpayers.

To my knowledge, there was only one budget rejected by the taxpayers associated with the Board of Education

This year is a very difficult one as the Grand List has not increased as it has over the years and new projects have been added.

Using the General Fund as a slush fund to support expenditures we cannot afford in the future, will only “kick the can down the road”, adding more budget increases that are not sustainable.

Simsbury does not have large corporations coming to town, placing the tax burden on the homeowners.

The Board of Education should be able to manage staff with fewer employees.

Many pupil support services do not affect the core learning of the students.

Each school has Pupil Support Services with Psychologists, Therapists, Social Workers, Para Professionals etc. under the direction of a supervisor and staff.

I have included the link to Support Services Staff: https://t.co/5b0BTF45Tt

It has become one of the drivers for an increase in the Board of Education budget.

The Board of Finance should challenge the need for all these support services in our schools and ask for a reduction in staff to reduce the budget.

Increased taxes year after year places a strain on all taxpayers.

Many restaurants are now being burdened with higher personnel costs, escalation of food prices and higher rents.

All this will be passed on to the consumer who will reject this escalation in costs and go to restaurants fewer times, finally shuttering the businesses.

The homeowner will have the burden of supporting a budget that escalates, a burden on their fixed income.

Economic Development will be unattainable with higher taxes.

All the renters in town will have an increase in rents that they can no longer afford, leaving a glut of empty apartments.

This leads to many tax appeals, furthering the impact on the taxes.

The lower stock market values should be an indicator of the financial environment.

Budgets have consequences and the Board of Finance should continue to review the expenditures for reductions and cost-saving ways to eliminate the continued burden on the taxpayers.

The Board of Finance should review all expenditures to lower the tax burden from 6.51% that should be rejected by the taxpayers.