Shelton Tax Board Recommends Lauretti's Budget Proposal

Shelton's Board of Aldermen will review a $115.4 million budget proposal recommended by the Board of Apportionment and Taxation.

The proposed 2013-2014 spending plan has changes that, in sum, maintained the proposed budget total, said board Vice Chair Jimmy Tickey. The A & T panel met for several days for two hours each over the past weeks to dissect it, he added.

"Tonight we are recommending a budget that aims to improve the quality of life for Shelton citizens. All six members of the Board of Apportionment and Taxation voted in support of an amended version of the Mayor's budget. This amended budget is being presented to the Board of Alderman at $115,492,006 with a mil-rate of 22.3," Tickey said.

A mill is a $1 tax per $1,000 of assessed value. The new tax rate would be slightly less than the current one, Tickey said.

The new budget also contains improvements:

• Irrigation system in the Huntington Green;
• Improvements to the East Village Park including lighting and fencing;
• Boat Ramp and Floating Dock behind in the Sunnyside area;
• Roadway through Riverview Park;
• And a roof over the entry of the Plumb Memorial Library.

Tax board Chairman Ken Olin said the budget proposal "continue's Shelton's tradition of providing good services at a reasonable cost."

"We are proud to present a balanced budget," he said, adding it proves that "fiscal responsibility pays dividends."

Specifically, Olin said the school system is improving each year.

Other issues he addressed were placing $225,000 currently in a separate account into the education budget, and getting the firehouse floor repaired.

He also wanted to preserve Locip funds, state grants that help maintain infrastructure.

Filling Positions

Tickey noted that during the budget process, the board learned that some departments had positions that were funded but not filled.

"When we fund positions, but do not hire in those positions, it creates uncertainties in the budget where it’s not entirely clear what’s spent, and what’s not spent in salary line-items," he said. "This creates confusion leaving us open to many gray areas. Funding - but not filling - a position also puts a burden on our Department Heads who were relying on a position being filled and that workload being carried out."

Improving the Budget Process

Tickey said he wanted to streamline the budget process by incorporating the Web.

"Currently, we have these very large budgeting books that we carry with us during this budgeting season. We have proposed moving the budgeting books to a web based platform for the Board of A&T as well as the Board of Alderman to review. This way, the Boards can securely access and view the budget electronically at any time," he said. 

"We can take this idea a step further by having departments submit their own budget through a web based platform to the Finance Department. From there, the budget can move through the usual process starting with the Mayor, to the Board of A&T, and then to the Board of Alderman," Tickey suggested.

Next Steps

May 7: Board of Alderman, Budget Workshop, Room 208 (2nd Floor) City Hall – 7:30 p.m.

May 15, BOA, Public Hearing, Auditorium - City Hall, 7 p.m ·

May 21, BOA, Budget Workshop, Room 208 (2nd Floor) City Hall  - 7:30 p.m.

May 30, BOA, Special Meeting-Adopt Budget, Room 208 (2nd Floor) City Hall  - 7:30 p.m.