The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received April 28, 2023.
By Eric J. Nunes, Ph.D.
Killingworth residents are bracing themselves for a potentially difficult financial year as both the Board of Selectmen (BoS) and the Board of Education (BoE) have proposed increases in their operating budgets for fiscal year 2023-2024 (FY23/24). The proposed increase in the BoS operating budget for Killingworth for FY23/24 is $5,930,799 or 4.4% higher than the FY22/23 budget. Moreover, the BoE proposed budget for the FY23/24 is a significant increase, with a gross increase of $2,625,028.97 or 5.83% compared to the previous year. These proposed increases are even more alarming and troubling since Connecticut State Democrats are pushing SB999, which has been referred to the senate finance committee and effectively pushes forward a 5%– or 27-billion-dollar property tax increase, according to the Connecticut General Assembly Office of Fiscal Analysis.
A detailed report of the proposed operating and capital budgets for the Town of Killingworth for FY23/24 has been provided by First Selectman Nancy Gorski to the Board of Finance (BoF). The budgets cover a range of areas, such as salaries, property maintenance, medical and dental coverage, computer maintenance, public safety, sanitation and health, park and recreation, and community services. Under the proposed operating budget, the town has increased salaries by 2.8% for all non-union employees, including elected officials. The Assessor’s salary budget has been increased by 34% to accommodate an employee assuming the role of Assessor, an Assessor’s clerk, and a consultant. Town property maintenance has been given priority, with a 42.9% increase in the budget, and custodial services have been expanded to include several town facilities. Public safety has also received funding, with an increase of 7.9% for the Fire Company due to rising energy costs, and an additional $5,000 in overtime for the Resident State Trooper Assessment for traffic control. Sanitation and health have been allocated funds for bulky waste disposal, and the park and recreation department has received a 27.2 % increase for seed and fertilizing.
Under community services, the Killingworth Library Association has been granted a 38% increase in funding to restore its normal budget requests, while the Committee on Aging and Substance Abuse/Addiction Services have also received funding. The capital budget includes funding for various projects, including the KVFC Station 2 Flat Membrane Roof, Hybrid Meeting Technology-Equipment & Software, and the Town Office Building’s Modular Roof & HVAC System. The budget also includes an annual transfer of 1.5 mills to capital reserves, as permitted by the Killingworth Town Charter. However, the actual transfer amount to the capital reserves has consistently fallen below this 1.5 mill mark. In practice, this has enabled greater flexibility with the budget with the goal of keeping the mill rate stable. Yet, this approach will undoubtedly create financial constraints and budget uncertainties in the future as the Town of Killingworth begins long overdue investments in its capital projects. Thus, the trend may very well be more frequent, with aggressive increases to our mill rate in the next 5 years.
The BoF has also returned its budget request to the Board of Selectmen, which includes capital projects to be funded by ARPA funds the town received for COVID-19 relief. The intent of these funds was to assist Killingworth residents and businesses affected by the economic damage induced by COVID-19 lockdowns. Originally, the economic recovery committee was responsible for deciding how to disperse the funds based on public input, but the BoS disbanded the committee and assumed this power. A member of the BoF recommended that ARPA funds be used for capital projects. For example, $100,000 is recommended for building a pavilion at Eric Auer Park and to repair a pavilion at Sheldon Park. How this helps to attenuate COVID-19 related financial burdens of Killingworth residents and businesses is unclear.
The BoE has proposed a gross operating expense budget of $47,655,708.22 for FY23/24, which represents an increase of $2,625,028.97 or 5.83% over the previous year’s budget. For context, the running average of budget increases from the BoE over the past decade was around 1%. Salaries make up 49.4% of the total proposed budget, totaling $23,558,922.23, while benefits account for 17.7% of the budget or $8,429,136.29. The proposed budget includes a significant increase in transportation costs of $640,587.71, bringing the total budgeted transportation costs to $4,159,750.24. This new 3-year transportation contract has the potential to have a huge impact on the budget over the next few years. The proposed budget also includes an increase of $190,723.88 or 27.1% for heating oil and a $60,301.00 or 24.2% increase in fuel. Moreover, the district holds outstanding bonds used to finance the construction of the Haddam Killingworth Middle School and the construction upgrades of the Haddam Killingworth High School. The bond on the HKMS will be paid off with the 23/24 budget. Nevertheless, the BoE has not disclosed a proposed referendum that will be presented to the town early next year for massive building projects. This will only continue to place pressure on increasing the mill rate. Killingworth residents will have a chance to accept or reject the BoE budget on May 2, 2023.
The proposed increases in both the BoS and the BoE operating budgets for FY23/24 are significant and pose a financial risk for Killingworth residents by potential increases in the mill rate to fund these increases. Indeed, Robert Rimmer Chairman of the Killingworth BoF recently said at a public hearing: “I am fearful that your mill rate is going up this year, hopefully not by a lot.” It is crucial for the town officials to carefully consider the impact of these proposed increases on the community while balancing the need for essential services and investments in infrastructure. Furthermore, the decision to allocate ARPA funds for capital projects rather than providing relief to residents and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic is a source of contention.
With increases to the proposed budgets and an increasing likelihood of our mill rate going up, a return to Conservative and Republican values may provide an inoculation and tincture to alleviate the problem of higher taxes and increased spending. Conservatives believe in smaller government, lower taxes, and individual responsibility, which can help reduce wasteful spending and provide much-needed relief to residents who are already struggling in a time of economic uncertainty, rising costs of goods and services, and decreased savings. The upcoming municipal election in November can provide an opportunity for Killingworth residents to make their voices heard and elect officials who are committed to these values. Therefore, it is crucial to remind people to vote in November and support candidates who prioritize fiscal responsibility and accountability in government spending.
