Tetreau to RTM: Don't Make Further Cuts to Proposed Budget

First Selectman Michael Tetreau has a message for Fairfield's RTM ahead of Monday's budget vote:

Don't cut the proposed budget.

Tetreau on Friday presented additional reductions he will suggest to the RTM, but he hopes the town body will not go beyond those cuts.

Thanks to a recent fuel cost purchase that locked in a lower rate for the town, plus a bond premium that can be applied to existing debt, Tetreau recommended the RTM shave $671,970 off the $279.8 million budget.

"Let's keep Fairfield a desirable place to live," Tetreau said, referring to the services preserved in the proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget.

With the $671,970 adjustment, the proposed budget tax increase would be 2.78 percent, down from the initial 6.38 percent projection.

That's less than 1 percent above where many taxpayers and some RTM members want the tax hike to be. In meetings and many a letter to the editor, residents said they want the tax increase to be held to 2 percent, or the rate of inflation.

Tetreau, however, stated Friday that the annual compounded Consumer Price Index is 2.54 percent, about two-tenths of a percent lower than Tetreau's proposed tax hike.

"Our proposed tax increase with the adjustment I'm recommending is right on par with this standard."

Regarding claims he's heard about surrounding towns' affordability, Tetreau presented a survey of nearby municipalities' current projected mill and tax rates:

- Darien: Mill rate - 13.17, tax increase - 3.86 percent
- Greenwich: Mill rate - 10.675, tax increase - 2.75 percent
- New Canaan: Mill rate - 14.6, tax increase - 3.71 percent
- Shelton: Mill rate - 22.3, tax decrease - 0.0045 percent
- Trumbull: Mill rate - 31.378, tax increase - 2.17 percent
- Westport: Mill rate: 18.25, tax increase 1.9 percent (estimated)

Tetreau added that only half of the surveyed towns have fully funded their pension requirements, one-third have funded their retiree medical benefits, and five out of six are using their surpluses to fund increase.

"Fairfield is fully funding longterm obligations...and we are not using our surplus to fund operations."

"We are living within our means," Tetreau said.

The RTM vote is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Fairfield Warde High School.