Budget Approval Widens Southington's Political Divide

SOUTHINGTON, CT — In a juxtoposition of stereotypical budgetary ideology, Southington Democrats blasted Republicans Tuesday over a spending plan raising taxes by the largest amount in years.

In doing so, Democrats also accused the GOP in Southington of shutting out Democrats during budget discussions.

Republicans hold a 6-3 edge on the Southington Town Council and it was by that margin Monday where major components of the town's 2023-24 government/education budget were approved.

Tuesday, the day after Southington's budgets were adopted, the Southington Democratic Town Committee issued a statement ripping the GOP.

“The budget that passed is a continuation of the fiscal cliff that has been created by the Republicans and will, very likely, negatively impact our town and residents for the next few years.” said Councilperson Valerie DePaolo.

Southington's 2023-24 town/school spending package is a combined $173.49 million, which is 6.62 percent or $10.77 million larger than current spending.

Due to Monday's approval, the mill rate will go up by 1.23 mills this year to 30.36, a 4.22 percent tax increase.

If your home is assessed at $200,000 — for example — the proposed budget would increase your tax bill this year by $246.

Democrats, both in the statement and at Monday's town council meeting, expressed concern about the GOP-approved budget relying on temporary revenues, such as federal Covid reimbursements and surplus dollars, to fund town/school operating expenses.

Democratic Councilman Christopher Palmieri said GOP council members did not work with council Democrats at crafting the budgets.

"Approving our annual budget is one of the most important responsibilities Southington elected officials have. I prefer leading in a much more collaborative approach and realize the importance of working together in a bipartisan manner," Palmieri said in the statement. "I am disappointed that this did not happen this year and that there was minimal communication from the majority party."

Democrats also accused Republicans of, simply, hashing out the budgetary particulars amongst themselves, especially since the GOP controls not only the council, but the finance board and the Southington Board of Education.

"Republicans are putting politics first and ignoring reality with their unsound budget," said Democratic Southington Board of Finance Member Kevin Beaudoin.

“We should be a bipartisan board but over the past two years it has become very political," added Democratic school board member Terri Carmody, a former chairperson. "Republican leadership excluded the Democrats during the budget process and we were never asked for any input."

Southington finand board member Susan Zoni, a Democrat, called Republican budgetary policies "reckless."

“I didn’t hear any Republicans complain or refuse to take the millions in government money that Southington received. Local Republican policies caused this tax increase. They increased debt by $22 million in just a few years, expanded programs, allowed out-of-control overtime, and used employees’ insurance money to offset expenses," Zoni said. "They like to spend and blame everything but themselves for their reckless policies, then leave the taxpayers shell-shocked."

In Southington, the finance board studies and analyzes the budget, making a final recommendation to the council, which has the final say.

Southington's top elected Republican, Victoria Triano, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

But during Monday's meeting, she offered up words of support for Republicans on the finance board, saying their credentials were solid and their assertion of no fiscal issues sound.

Triano said conversations between her and Republican finance board chairman John J. Leary convinced her town spending increases were a byproduct of economic inflation, not spending one-time grants on operating expenses.

"John Leary's credentials are impeccable and he's been a public servant for so many years, " Triano said Monday night. "If he tells me that this is inflation and not a fiscal cliff, I believe him."

Other council Republicans offered similar sentiments Monday.

"The theme in this budget is we are going to defer to our experts. The board of finance, they did a lot of work. It's almost arbitrary at this point to say 'we're not going to take their opinion,'" said GOP Councilman William Dziedzic.

From May 9: 'New Town/School Budget, Tax Hike Approved In Southington'