Stonington Budget Hearings Begin Tonight (With Poll)

The Stonington Board of Finance meets at 7 p.m. in the meeting room to begin hearings on the ’s proposed 2012-2013 town budget.

Up first are the budgets of the , police and . The board of finance budget hearings will take place between Feb. 1 and April 18. Presentations on each of the town department budgets will take place during the first four meetings, followed by budget deliberations which may including funding cuts or additions and then a public budget hearing in April.

All of the meetings are open to the public, but the formal public comment meeting won’t take place until April 18.

According to The Westerly Sun, First Selectman Edward Haberek Jr.’s proposed town budget is 1.65 percent less than the budget voters approved for the 2011-2012 year. However, the $22.1 million budget includes additional funding for several outside agencies.

The First Selectman, The Westerly Sun reported, will ask the board and taxpayers to fund an additional $15,000 each for the , Stonington Ambulance and Westerly Ambulance, bringing the total funding of the three ambulance services to $30,000 each. The budget will also include increased funding for the .

Here is the budget-hearing schedule:

• February 1: Solid Waste, Police and Highway Department budget hearings, 7 p.m. at the Stonington Police Station
• February 8: WPCA, budget hearing, 7 p.m. at the Stonington Police Station
• March 15: General Government, Capital Improvement budget hearing, 7 p.m. at the Stonington Police Station
• March 7: Hearing, 7 p.m. at the Stonington Police Station
• March 21: Budget deliberations, 7 p.m. at the Stonington Police Station
• March 28: Budget deliberations, 7 p.m. at the Stonington Police Station
• April 4: Budget deliberations, 7 p.m. at the Stonington Police Station
• April 18: Public Budget Hearing 7 p.m. at