Minutes
Present: Alvarez (Chairman), DeSalvo, Dolan, Guffey, Mazzucco, Yonkers
Also present: Finance Director Gniadek, First Selectman Ketcham, Selectmen Pemberton & Takacs, Treasurer O’Donnell, three members of the public, and a representative of the Redding Pilot.
Chairman Alvarez called the May 7, 2013 meeting to order at 8:10 pm.
REFERENDUM RESULTS
Mr. Alvarez announced that the Town budget was approved 689 to 654. The town approved the Region 9 Board of Education budget 774 to 570. Easton also approved the Region 9 budget.
TAX COLLECTOR REPORT
Mr. Gniadek reported for Mrs. Moisio that 99.8% of the budgeted tax revenue had been collected. Mr. Gniadek added that the “demand letter” for the Redding Life Care assessment resolution will be sent as soon as the court costs are determined. Interest on the outstanding amount is still accruing.
DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON 2013-14 BUDGET
The budget referendum was approved, so there was no further discussion on the budget expenditures.
ACTION TO SET THE MILL RATE FOR 2013-14
The mill rate worksheet was reviewed. The increase in mill rate is 1.8%. Mr. Alvarez noted that he believed the revenue estimates on the town side of the budget were low and suggested the revenue number be increased by $100,000 and would lower the increase in mill rate to 1.58%. Board members discussed the pros and cons of making the suggested change.
Mrs. Ketcham announced that the Town will see a $30,000 increase in revenue next year from the AT&T lease for the cell tower that will be built on the Highway Garage site. The lease payments are scheduled to begin July 1, 2013.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Finance insert a placeholder for $100,000 additional revenue for 2013-14, to be allocated at the next Board of Finance meeting, resulting in a mill rate for 2013-14 of 29.05, or a 1.58% increase in the normalized mill rate. Mazzucco, Dolan. Approved. Unanimous.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Finance meeting be adjourned. Dolan, Mazzucco. Approved. Unanimous.
The meeting adjourned at 8:31 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Maday, Recording Secretary