Fairfield Patch Guide to Tonight's RTM Budget Vote

The Representative Town Meeting is scheduled to vote tonight on the proposed $273.3 million Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) operation budget for the town and Board of Education. GOP members of the town’s legislative body brought forward last week , or $4.4 million.

For some departments, that proposal would only reduce an increase over the current fiscal year. For others, the plan would cut the budget below current levels.

Below is a glimpse of what the proposed 2 percent plan would mean to each department according to information published on the town’s website. Each department head was asked this week to provide information on how the proposal would impact allocations.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Title provided his answer to the reduction of the requested $149 million FY13 budget via his “Superintendent’s Blog” on the Board of Education’s website.

The meeting will take place at 8 p.m. in the large gym at .

 

 

Department FY13 Request (BoF Approved) Proposed 2% Reduction  FY13 Budget w/ Proposal Increase/(Cut) vs. FY12 Possible Cuts to Town Services Board of Ed.  $149,186,464 $2,983,729 $146,202,735 $521,885 Possible elimination 25-30 certified positions and 10-20 non-certified positions. It is not known yet which services and programs would be reduced if the proposal passes.  First Selectmen's Office $572,793 $11,456 $561,337 $46 Possible loss of town's membership to CT Conference of Municipalities; town could lose access to research data and municipal lobbying efforts in Hartford Town Clerk's Office $653,984 $13,079 $640,095 $14,116 Possible elimination of: Saturday voting and licensing hours; an RTM recording secretary for five RTM meetings; monthly RTM mailings Admin. Services $101,180 $2,024 $99,156 ($1,272) Town switchboard would be staffed 30 minutes less per day due to a potential cut in payroll.  Registrar of Voters $244,886 $4,898 $239,988 ($8,445) Potential reduction of five percent of ballots to be ordered for the Presidential election; cuts to seasonal payroll would mean decrease of 250 man hours and possible short-term office closures Zoning Board of Appeals $6,638 $133 $6,505 ($133) Reduction could reduce ZBA's ability to meet legal advertising requirements for meeting notices Town Plan & Zoning $706,124 $14,122 $692,000 ($3,866) Potential inhibition of department's ability to enforce zoning regulations Probate Court $26,700 $534 $26,166 ($2,534) No significant proposed cuts to services Historic District Commission $10,311 $206 $10,105 ($806) No significant proposed cuts to services Conservation  $1,077,823 $21,873 $1,056,267 ($10,840) The reduction would lead to a 50 percent scale down of summer labor, which could lead to reductions in open space maintenance Shellfish Commission $11,470 $229 $11,241 ($17,249) A 22 percent reduction in summer seasonal labor force which could reduce the commission's ability to assist commercial watermen in conducting shellfish relays at Sasco Hill Beach Legal Services $540,000 $10,800 $529,200 ($10,800) No siginificant proposed cuts to services Misc. Contingency $45,000 $900 $44,100 ($900) No siginificant proposed cuts to services Human Resources $7,808,839 $11,243 $7,797,596 $2,092,127 Impacts on budget unknown at this time. The RTM's proposed 2 percent reduction does not include the contribution to the town's reserves that was included in the FY13 budget.  Community/Econ. Development $234,270 $4,685 $229,585 $39,495 The proposed 2 percent reduction would impact the department's ability to market Fairfield and support local businesses. Harbor Management Commission $24,260 $485 $23,795 $1,739 No siginificant proposed cuts to services Contingency $1,088,517 $21,770 $1,066,747 $216,747 No siginificant proposed cuts to services Finance $1,476,712 $19,888 $1,456,824 $501,216 Elimination of Board of Finance mailings to Board of Finance members, RTM, and press; reduction in the number of budget books printed; part-time clerk reduction in hours may slow accounts payable function. Proposed reduction does not include contribution to town's reserves included in FY13 budget.  Purchasing $301,242 $6,025 $295,217 $557 Elimination of staff attendance at building committee meetings; reduction of advertising budget; elimination of new buyer training Assessor $836,069 $24,721 $811,348 $110,816 RTM proposal would cut one full-time clerk to half-time. This may result in longer service response times in a department that is already understaffed, according to the 2009 town audit.  Tax Collector $739,091 $40,855 $724,309 ($20,572) No siginificant proposed cuts to services IT $1,473,560 $29,500 $1,444,089 ($34,823) Loss of HelpDesk support; inhibited response to issues that may come up during the year (repairs, etc.) Board of Finance $99,313 $1,986 $97,327 $764 Eliminate secretarial services for board meetings Fire  $14,117,755 $282,355 $13,835,400 $309,415 Elimination of: public safety events not put on by on-duty crews; the life safety trailer programin the school system; attendance of after-hours training programs; non-mandatory department training; some Haz Mat and Special Ops training; Fire Department personnel at Station 4 in Southport; and will delay the purchase of a new staff car, command vehicle, and other equipment. Police  $14,750,262 $295,005 $14,455,257 ($266,895) Reduction of crossing guards, Special Police Officer hours, part-time clerk/typist position; elimination of the DARE program; elimination of the Citizens Police Academy; reduction of medical training; reduction of medical supplies; ability to respond to medical calls will be inhibited.  Animal Control $457,740 $9,155 $448,585 $1,991 Elimination of private property dead animal pickup and reduced hours of public property dead animal pickup. Emergency Management $28,333 $567 $27,766 $780 Concern regarding the department's ability to respond to emergencies in the coastal area of Fairfield and on I-95.  Emergency Comm. Center $1,684,011 $33,680 $1,650,331 $15,873 Elimination of reverse-911 system; removal of portable radios for police and fire departments.  Public Works Admin. $583,926 $11,679 $572,247 ($742) Elimination of the travel and meeting account, which means the department will no longer send representatives to trade shows; reduction of part-time secretary's hours.  Public Works Operations $15,162,834 $303,257 $14,859,577 $425,109 The RTM's proposal would delay the purchase of new equipment requested as capital projects; the department will also delay projects like a bathroom upgrade at Ye Yacht Yard; HVAC upgrades at the Recreation Building; reduction of tree planting, grass mowing, and other maintenance.  Building $728,156 $14,563 $713,593 $5,958 Cuts to payroll and overtime may increase the length of time it takes to process permit applications and to perform special building inspections.  Engineering $761,109 $15,222 $745,887 ($37,974) Elimination of a part-time position which may delay builders and contractors regarding inspections; reduction of engineering student hours; reduction in capital requests translates to not updating software and engineering manuals.  Health Department $3,292,966 $65,859 $3,227,107 ($26,077) Elimination of three part-time positions and funding for substitute nurse coverage; summer school nursing services; elimination of locally provided sexually transmitted disease testing.  Human Services $563,478 $11,269 $552,209 $19,355 Reduction of replacements of items at the Fairfield Senior Center.  Solid Waste and Recycling $3,645,478 $72,910 $3,572,568 ($20,888) Elimination of Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day. Library $4,402,734 $88,054 $4,314,680 $22,771 One weekday closing at 5 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. at both branches; one weekday opening at 1 p.m. instead of 9 a.m. at both branches; reduced Saturday hours; eliminate Sunday hours.  Penfield Pavilion  $103,055 $2,061 $100,994 $6,349 Reduction of season payroll, which would translate to reduced hours for the boat racks and sail house.  Parks & Rec $872,308 $17,446 $854,862 ($8,626) Reduction of programs like summer camp for special needs children and free senior fitness classes; reduction of hours for the tennis facility; reduction of concert series.  Waterfront & Marina $394,521 $7,890 $386,631 ($8,172) Reduction of hours at Jennings sail house; reduction of lifeguard hours at Southport, Sasco, and South Pine Creek beaches.  Carl J. Dickman Golf Course $293,304 $5,866 $287,438 ($22,775) Elimination of seasonal half-time position, which may reduce maintenance to one day a week, impacting playability of the course.  H. Smith Richardson Golf Course $1,562,545 $31,251 $1,531,294 ($108,290) Reduction of seasonal staff hours which may reduce maintenance, which could impact playability of the course; delay of purchase of new mower.