Fairfield Board of Finance Reduces Fiscal Year 2014 Budget by $2.6 Million

The Board of Finance cut $2.6 million from the Fiscal Year 2014 budget early Wednesday, reducing the Board of Selectmen's approved $281.4 million financial plan to $279.8 million.

The most recent version of the budget represents at $7.5 million -- or 2.75 percent -- increase in spending over the current year budget. As approved by the Board of Finance -- and accounting for senior tax relief --, the financial plan means a tax increase for Fairfield residents of under 3 percent, Chief Fiscal Officer Robert Mayer surmised following the vote.

"There is no such thing as an easy budget year," Finance Chair Tom Flynn said before discussions began.

"This has been the most difficult one I've seen while on the Board of Finance, because the starting tax increase was too high and unsustainable."

The board's unanimous approval for the budget came after over six hours of deliberations that resulted in large reductions to the funds for the Board of Education, the Pequot Library, the Fairfield Public Library, the Department of Public Works, and the police department.

The Board of Education budget was reduced by $1.25 million, bringing the Board of Selectmen's $152.9 million recommended plan to $151.7 million. The vote was unanimous.

Finance board member James Walsh originally moved to slash $2 million from the budget, but that motion was voted down in favor for the $1.25 million cut.

Catherine Albin, a former school board member who now serves on the Board of Finance, said she's in an "unusual position" this year regarding the education budget but supported the motion.

"It's with a deep heart that I do this," she said, and, addressing the school board, added "I know it's a difficult request, but please don't nickel and dime the students and parents."

In a 5-4 vote, the board moved to eliminate the town's total contribution of $350,000 to the Pequot Library following nearly an hour of debate. Albin, Robert Stone, Kenneth Brachfeld, Vice Chair Robert Bellitto, and Chris DeWitt voted in favor of the cut; Flynn, Walsh, Jim Brown, and Mary LeClerc voted against.

Prior to the vote, Walsh read a statement from Pequot Library Executive Director Martha Gates Lord, who wrote that the board would "in essence be closing the library" with such a cut, which accounts for a third of the library's funding.

"Do you really want to sit here and think about how we shut the Pequot Library down?" Walsh said.

LeClerc added that the thought "makes me very sad. We haven't cut any other department budgets to zero."

Bellitto, who made the motion, said the board members must think about, given the budget year, "can we afford three libraries? I'd argue this year the answer is no."

As for the two libraries under the purview of the town -- the board moved to eliminate a library associate staff position and reduced the materials budget and other accounts for a total reduction of $213,189.

Town Librarian Karen Ronald had to defend preserving the position of a reference librarian and suggested the corresponding cut of $82,600 be made to the materials account.

"That's how serious this is," she said, referring to Walsh's motion to eliminate that position. "This will really hurt library services considerably."

She convinced Walsh to instead move to reduce the materials budget and confirmed that, despite the cuts, library hours can be restored in the upcoming fiscal year.

The Department of Public Works sustained $424,000 in reductions, cutting the funding for contractual services by $50,000, eliminating a request for a new asphalt truck as well as two budgeted positions (a laborer and a repair person). 

In addition, the police department's request for a new sergeant position to head the proposed school security task force was eliminated.

Here is a breakdown of the remaining adjustments the Board of Finance made to the Fiscal Year 2014 budget:

• Human and Social Services Department: $68,741 reduction to payroll and associated benefits for the elimination of a new senior center director and a part-time clerk for the senior center;
• Board of Finance: $3,500 reduction in fees and professional services;
• Office of the First Selectmen: $81,040 reduction, accounting for elimination of a part-time secretary and reducing the Chief of Staff salary and benefits by half with the anticipation the position will be filled halfway through the fiscal year;
• Town Clerk's Office: $5,000 reduction in the printing and binding account;
• Registrar of Voters: $3,530 reduction total reduction for seasonal payroll, printing and binding, postage, and travel reimbursement;
• Probate Court: $1,000 reduction in postage account;
• Historic District Commission: $550 reduction in fees and professional services;
• Legal Services: $50,000 reduction to legal services/fees budget;
• Human Resources: $4,500 total reduction to educational/memberships and travel accounts;
• Fairfield Counseling Services: $8,750 reduction in town's contribution to the organization;
• Finance Department: $1,200 reduction to educational and membership account;
• Finance Department: $4,612 reduction to Chief Fiscal Office salary, bringing that account to $130,000;
• Purchasing Department: $859 total reduction to miscellaneous accounts;
• Information Technology: $100,000 in fees and professional services moved to the contingency account;
• Information Technology: $41,100 reduction to miscellaneous accounts;
• Fire Department: $4,900 total reduction to departmental supplies and travel/meetings account:
• Police Department: Reduction of $36,763 in overtime replacement to bring overtime funds for school security plan to $125,000.