Chair Report: March 13 Meeting, Budget Discussions & Hearing Preview

Good Afternoon, and a happy Friday neighbors! From the council chair, providing a review of our March 14th regular Town Council meeting and our upcoming budget sessions.

On Tuesday, March 14th the Town Council will meet for our regular meeting. Two proclamations will be read into the record recognizing Women’s History Month and Developmental Disability Awareness Month.

Following these readings, the Council will consider a resolution authorizing the Town Manager to enter into a contract with the State Library Association for a Historic Documents Preservation Grant. This $6,000-dollar grant will assist with the restoration and preservation of 60 original linen and paper maps.

The Town Council will then reconvene on March 15th, 16th and 20th to review the Town Manager’s proposed budget. The Town Manager's proposed budget includes a total expenditure increase of 3.4% and a mill rate increase of .85 mills or 2.32%. If approved, Tolland's mill rate would then be set to 37.43 for Real Estate and Personal Property. The mill rate for Motor Vehicles is capped at 32.46 mills.

On March 15th the Town Council will receive an overview of the budget and presentations for the Public Works (Highway and Parks & Facilities), Law Enforcement and Community Services (Human Services, Library and Recreation), with questions answered by department heads. March 16th includes a review of Finance, Public Safety and General Government expenditures with questions answered by various department heads. Finally, on March 20th, the Town Council will review Planning & Community Development, Board of Education and Solid Waste, with questions answered by department heads and the Board of Education Superintendent.

Public Comment on all Department presentations will be available at this time and is encouraged.

On Thursday, March 23rd, the Town Council will hold the Public Hearing on the Town Manager’s Proposed Budget.

To view the budget in its entirety, please visit https://town-tolland-ct-budget-book.cleargov.com/7169/introduction/transmittal-letter as a starting point and browse the various sections of this website to view all budget-related documents that discuss the town's revenues, expenditures, capital debt, etc.

To view the March 14th meeting information, please check out -

Agenda - https://ecode360.com/TO1208/do...

Packet - https://www.tollandct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3921/f/uploads/2023-03-14_regular_meeting_packet_0.pdf

To view the budget meeting agendas, visit the following links (March 23rd Agenda is pending):

March 15th - https://ecode360.com/TO1208/document/712636676.pdf

March 16th - https://ecode360.com/TO1208/document/712636766.pdf

March 20th - https://ecode360.com/TO1208/document/712636864.pdf

Thank you for taking the time to review this report and the attached links above. If you would like to submit any questions or comments to the Town Council regarding the budget and other town-related topics, please email us at towncouncil@tollandct.gov.