Tolland Town Manager Shares 2018-19 Budget Summary

TOLLAND, CT — Town Manager Steve Werbner on Thursday released a summary of the proposed 2018-19 fiscal year budget.

Here is the text:

Dear Residents,

On March 7, 2018 I presented to the Town Council the Town Manager's recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2018/2019. Click here for the budget in detail. The budget is once again heavily impacted by the reduction of revenue to the Town from the State of Connecticut. I have budgeted for a potential loss of $1,167,495 in State aid with the primary decrease being in our education grant in the amount of $864,389. This loss of revenue along with limited growth in the grand list puts significant strain on our ability to fund needed programs for the Board of Education and the Town without a modest tax increase.

The budget which I am recommending fully funds the Board of Education requested increase of $308,659 as well as an increase of $134,463 for Town operations. The tax increase necessary to support my recommended budget is 0.86 mills or a 2.49% increase in the mill rate. For the average tax payer with a market value home of $268,979 this is a $162 increase in taxes.

Major program recommendations include:

• Reinstatement of two Residents Troopers for a total of four Resident Troopers
• Reinstatement of one free bulky waste pickup

Residents interested in finding out more about the budget can attend budget workshops which will be held on March 14,15 and 20th in the Town Hall Council Chambers at 7:00 PM. The meeting on the 20th will provide residents with an opportunity in an informal setting to provide feedback to the Council on any budget related concerns. In addition there is a Public Hearing on March 22, 2018 in the Tolland High School Auditorium at 7:00 PM on the Town Managers budget.

Any questions on the budget can be sent to the Town Manager’s email at swerbner@tolland.org.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel