2018-03-15 Special TOWN OF BERLIN
BOARD OF FINANCE
BUDGET MEETING SPECIAL MEETING
Thursday, March 15, 2018
John "Doc" McIntosh Conference Room
7:00 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
ATTENDANCE:
Members Present: Sal Bordonaro, Kevin Guite, Mark Holmes; Sam Lomaglio;
Gerald Paradis; John Richards
Members Absent: none
Staff Present:
Kevin Delaney—Finance Director
4. DISCUSSION ON DEPARTMENT BUDGETS:
1. Discussion and possible vote to send To�vn budget to Annual Budget
Hearing
Mr. Delaney provided the BOF with an updated 10-year plan plotting
proposed capital expenditures for FY19 and forward, proposed mode of
funding, along with items to be bonded.
Mr. Paradis asked if�vhen the budget is printed, if it will have all of the
line-by-line detail for the capital expenditures (including those items cut or
moved out to show what�vas eliminated).
Mr. Bordonaro reported that he spoke with Mayor Kaczynski about the
possibility of defunding the Homemaking Services department. The
Mayor thought it a good idea to let the program go another year to see
how it does �vith the new leadership, but he was also not necessarily
opposed to the potential of defimding. BOF agreed to see what happens
this coming year.
Chairman Lomaglio had a very positive 2-hour meeting with the BOE
where he outlined the BOF's concerns and suggested a budgetary range.
BOE indicated it really wants to work with BOF, and is reworking its
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budget proposal to try and conform/ compromis� with BOF's guidelines.
BOE asked for a few days to work on the details, and Chairman Lomaglio
indicated that BOF would have to hold off on voting for the BOE budget.
Mr. Holmes asked to clarify two prior votes—BOF voted to remove a
transfer of General Fund Balance to cover money already spent ($290K),
and also voted to include a transfer of General Fund Balance to cover
money not yet spent ($1.8M). Mr. Paradis confirmed that was correct.
Mr. Delaney explained that the Budget Dashboard he provided includes
Board of Finance's $3.368M department request reductions (includes
capital, operating, transfers), successful Assessment appeals revenue
reduction, General Fund Balance transfers. The current Town budget
(which does not show any concessions from BOE) is
$90,439,801 representing a 2.08 mil rate/ 6.6% increase; before any
adjustments to the BOE budget.
Mr. Delaney continued that for a home valued at $250K (��ith a taxable
value of$175K), that house would pay $364 more in ta�es with the
increased mil rate. He pointed out that the State cuts in our budget
represent $22M, so essentially 1 mil of the increase is just making up for
the State reductions. Chairman Lomaglio commented that paying more
ta�es hurts, but people have to understand that 1 mil is directly related to
the State cuts. The ta�pay�ers �vill have to endure a modest increase to
make up for last year's very shy capital budget.
Mr. Guite added that once the bonding is paid do�vn, the debt payments
should be able to be redirected. Chairman Lomaglio feels this budget is
responsible, it funds capital, it fiinds the BOE, funding operating expenses.
He stated that residents are under a misimpression that the Town, BOE
have large reserves and that the tow�n can continue to absorb its
expenditures �vith very low tax increases.
Mr. Richards thinks the BOE budget increase should be about 3% - this
budget will show we're gro�ving out town, gro��ving the BOE and attacking
the capital.
BOF will meet on Tuesday, 3/20/18 at 7:45. Mr. Lomaglio will share the
BOE proposal once he receives, it should be ready for a vote on Tuesday
night.
2. Discussion and possible vote to send Board of Education budget to Annual
Budget Hearing
3. Discussion and possible vote to send Berlin Water Control budget to
Annual Budget Hearing
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5. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Paradis moved to adjourn at 7:29 p.m., ���hich was seconded by Mr. Holmes.
The motion passed unanimously.
Submitted by,
Dana Borges
RECEIVED FOR REC�I�p
BERLlN i'OWN C�E�K
2016 MaR 2o AM 9� 4?
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