Wednesday, May 21, 2008 12:15 PM EDT
Second budget proposal rejected
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Stonington finance panel will make more cuts tonight
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 Stonington finance panel will make more cuts tonight. |
STONINGTON — Voters soundly defeated a second proposed spending plan Tuesday — and that could mean a job loss for some town employees.
And while the defeat was not as great as the first time around, that was little consolation to Board of Finance members who had made nearly $850,000 in cuts to get the budget to $54.7 million for this referendum.
“It’s not as bad a defeat as we suffered the first time, but it’s still a significant defeat,” Board of Finance Chairman Glenn Frishman said.
Residents voted 1,786 to 1,174 against the proposed spending plan, defeating the measure in all three polling places with a 24 percent turnout. That is compared to 28 percent who turned out the first time around.
The Board of Finance will meet tonight to make changes to the proposal to send back to voters. As it stands before any changes are made, the budget represents a 1.62 percent increase in expenditures, but a 2.84 percent increase in taxpayer funding of government due to decreased revenues.
“The whole budget is open,” Frishman said.
Even before Tuesday’s vote, First Selectman Ed Haberek had department heads draw up five percent cuts in their spending at the request of the Board of Finance, a measure he said could affect jobs. Haberek will now bring those proposed cuts to the Board of Finance.
“We have to look at everything,” Board of Finance member Andrew Rines said. “Most of everything will be impacted. My personal hope is that we don’t have to eliminate people, but I don’t know if that’s possible.”
Haberek also plans on bringing forward changes to proposed capital improvements.
Haberek said the two defeats were a sign that the town had to change the way it does business, and be able to do less with more.
“The environment is not conducive to passing budgets right now,” he said.
Frishman said the current financial environment in town is unique this year because residents are facing unprecedented fuel and energy costs, combined with a revaluation and general unease about the economy.
And while going around town in recent days, Frishman said, a cross-section of the town — including residents with children in school — told him they were voting against the budget.
“We have to make some tough decisions,” he said.
Rob Marseglia, who heads up the political action committee Vote Yes in Stonington, said he thought the fewer votes against the budget this time should mean lesser cuts. Vote Yes’s group of parents with children in the school district was less visible during this referendum, putting up fewer signs but sending out an e-mail suggesting residents would save as little as $1 a week by rejecting the budget.
At tonight’s meeting, Marseglia said he hopes the Board of Education budget will not be put on the chopping block again. After the first referendum the Board of Finance cut $288,000 from the Board of Education’s budget. That proposed budget stands at $30.5 million.
“It’s frustrating,” Marseglia said.
The Board of Finance will meet at 7:30 tonight at the Stonington Police Headquarters.
And while the defeat was not as great as the first time around, that was little consolation to Board of Finance members who had made nearly $850,000 in cuts to get the budget to $54.7 million for this referendum.
“It’s not as bad a defeat as we suffered the first time, but it’s still a significant defeat,” Board of Finance Chairman Glenn Frishman said.
Residents voted 1,786 to 1,174 against the proposed spending plan, defeating the measure in all three polling places with a 24 percent turnout. That is compared to 28 percent who turned out the first time around.
The Board of Finance will meet tonight to make changes to the proposal to send back to voters. As it stands before any changes are made, the budget represents a 1.62 percent increase in expenditures, but a 2.84 percent increase in taxpayer funding of government due to decreased revenues.
“The whole budget is open,” Frishman said.
Even before Tuesday’s vote, First Selectman Ed Haberek had department heads draw up five percent cuts in their spending at the request of the Board of Finance, a measure he said could affect jobs. Haberek will now bring those proposed cuts to the Board of Finance.
“We have to look at everything,” Board of Finance member Andrew Rines said. “Most of everything will be impacted. My personal hope is that we don’t have to eliminate people, but I don’t know if that’s possible.”
Haberek also plans on bringing forward changes to proposed capital improvements.
Haberek said the two defeats were a sign that the town had to change the way it does business, and be able to do less with more.
“The environment is not conducive to passing budgets right now,” he said.
Frishman said the current financial environment in town is unique this year because residents are facing unprecedented fuel and energy costs, combined with a revaluation and general unease about the economy.
And while going around town in recent days, Frishman said, a cross-section of the town — including residents with children in school — told him they were voting against the budget.
“We have to make some tough decisions,” he said.
Rob Marseglia, who heads up the political action committee Vote Yes in Stonington, said he thought the fewer votes against the budget this time should mean lesser cuts. Vote Yes’s group of parents with children in the school district was less visible during this referendum, putting up fewer signs but sending out an e-mail suggesting residents would save as little as $1 a week by rejecting the budget.
At tonight’s meeting, Marseglia said he hopes the Board of Education budget will not be put on the chopping block again. After the first referendum the Board of Finance cut $288,000 from the Board of Education’s budget. That proposed budget stands at $30.5 million.
“It’s frustrating,” Marseglia said.
The Board of Finance will meet at 7:30 tonight at the Stonington Police Headquarters.
Reality wrote on May 29, 2008 6:12 PM:
" No one wants to undermine the Stonington education system and there is no message going out to the children (are you delusional?). The school budget is only part of the town budget. By voting no the message is being sent “Haberek said the two defeats were a sign that the town had to change the way it does business”. You call our school system a joke? It’s one of the best in the area. Look around, does our town look like it’s in a shambles? No, actually it is in very good repair. How much did your taxes go up this year? Easy to say (a dollar a week) when you rent and don’t own a home and only taxes you pay are on a car. All the people who voted no twice, they must be a bunch of stupid fools that don’t know what’s good for them? Maybe they have gotten their education in that joke of the Stonington school system? Or maybe they have a little more of their lives invested in this town and they are tired of getting taxed to death. "
RE: Reality wrote on May 29, 2008 9:44 AM:
" Only an ignoramus would undermine the education system of Stonington. Our children in the community need someone to fight for them. By voting NO, yes you save yourself less than a dollar a week but, the message you are sending to our children is crippling. You're telling them, in essence, that they are not worth a quality education. You are telling them that you don't care if they are prepared for college or not. You are telling them that they are destined to live a life like you... Complaining about taxes, complaining about socio-economic demographics and, complaining about opportunity. Don't you understand that NO ONE wants to move into a town where the infrastructure is dilapidated? Don't you understand that people don't want to move into a town where the School System is a JOKE? Consider this, INCREASE THE TAX BASE, it lessens the burden on us all. For those of you who think less than a dollar a week is gonna break you.... Cut out a cup of coffee and a donut per month and we'll be all set. Pick up one can a day and collect the deposit over at Stop and Shop and we'll be all set! "
Reality wrote on May 29, 2008 12:57 AM:
" Read the headlines! “Voters soundly defeated a second proposed spending plan Tuesday”
All those people wrong? The school budget is only part of the town budget and I hope and pray there are more people like me that can see more of the big picture. No spin just facts. “And while going around town in recent days, Frishman said, a cross-section of the town — including residents with children in school — told him they were voting against the budget”. I spend a lot of time with others, I listen to what they have to say and I feel their joy and their pain. It’s easy to say something like a dollar a week if you rent and don’t have any taxable properties. I have to look a little further than my self and I can see what’s happening to our lower / middle income people (property owners, many long time residents) they are getting taxed out of town. Wake up people before it becomes Stonington for the well to do. YOUR MONEY, YOUR CHOICE, YOUR VOTE... VOTE NO.
"
All those people wrong? The school budget is only part of the town budget and I hope and pray there are more people like me that can see more of the big picture. No spin just facts. “And while going around town in recent days, Frishman said, a cross-section of the town — including residents with children in school — told him they were voting against the budget”. I spend a lot of time with others, I listen to what they have to say and I feel their joy and their pain. It’s easy to say something like a dollar a week if you rent and don’t have any taxable properties. I have to look a little further than my self and I can see what’s happening to our lower / middle income people (property owners, many long time residents) they are getting taxed out of town. Wake up people before it becomes Stonington for the well to do. YOUR MONEY, YOUR CHOICE, YOUR VOTE... VOTE NO.
"
Re: Reality wrote on May 28, 2008 6:46 PM:
" People like you are the reason why school budgets fail.... You put your ridiculous spin on the comments below and don't even come close to presenting a credible idea or retort for that matter. Furthermore, you insinuate the the term 'Geriatric population' is disrespectful. The term 'Geriatric population' is a legitimate demographic!! How much would passage of the budget cost you in the end?? Maybe $52 a year?? Check your gas and grocery expenditures over the last year. I'm sure the price increases total more than $52.... Let's try not to be so selfish the next time the school budget goes to vote!! "
To the Forum Moderator wrote on May 28, 2008 12:57 PM:
" ARE YOU BIASED? I think you know what I'm talking about. POST ALL OF THE COMMENTS, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT REPRESENT YOUR OPINION!!!!! "
Re: Reality wrote on May 28, 2008 10:38 AM:
" Are you for real?? That's one hell of a spin you attempted to put on things!! Firstly, the term 'Geriatric Population' is in NO way disrespectful and you are a FOOL to interpret it as such. Perhaps your private school education, that you paid for yourself, was lacking. 'Geriatrics' is a rapidly growing field these days and the term is completely interchangeable to describe many conditions where, what term do you use, 'Older Folks' are the predominant demographic.
Hey, lets face it, gas isn't 25 cents a gallon anymore like when you grew up, there are all sorts of economic factors that are tied to budgets these days. To save yourself less than a dollar a week at the expense of our students is unfathomable. You should be ASHAMED of yourself for spewing your baseless arguement to the detriment of our children. The 'older fixed income and middle class' ARE NOT BEING TAXED OUT OF STONINGTON by any stretch of the imagination!!! Last note: My motto would be, based on your rant "Stonington: Don't raise your children here, the OLDER FIXED INCOME AND MIDDLE CLASS POPULATIONS WON'T SUPPORT IT!!" "
Hey, lets face it, gas isn't 25 cents a gallon anymore like when you grew up, there are all sorts of economic factors that are tied to budgets these days. To save yourself less than a dollar a week at the expense of our students is unfathomable. You should be ASHAMED of yourself for spewing your baseless arguement to the detriment of our children. The 'older fixed income and middle class' ARE NOT BEING TAXED OUT OF STONINGTON by any stretch of the imagination!!! Last note: My motto would be, based on your rant "Stonington: Don't raise your children here, the OLDER FIXED INCOME AND MIDDLE CLASS POPULATIONS WON'T SUPPORT IT!!" "
Reality wrote on May 28, 2008 8:12 AM:
" I’m in my 50s and have lived in town all my life. My education was in private schools with high school being paid for myself by working all summer long. Most children are doing fine in our school system, the ones that have a good attitude. The children that have a poor perception of the world (and who would blame them in these troubled times) have problems, we had one of each. The school system is more than adequate and no children have been denied the opportunity to succeed. Bottom line is the budget and that we are taxing the older fixed income and middle class out of town. Once again our new motto should be “Stonington for the well to do”. Last note: I would never label our elders as the “geriatric population” they deserve much more respect than that.
"
"
Re: Reality wrote on May 27, 2008 9:23 AM:
" The 'older folks' in town receive assistance from the town in the form of reduced taxes. Let's not forget 'older folks' YOUR EDUCATION WAS PROVIDED FOR BY THE 'OLDER FOLKS' BEFORE YOU! The school age children that you negatively impacted by shooting down the budget will be responsible for funding your social security when they enter the working force! I'm sick and tired of the geriatric population voting no budgets that directly impact children. Are you that miserable in your old age that you would deny a child the opportunity to succeed. NOW THAT IS REALITY! "
Reality wrote on May 26, 2008 9:37 AM:
" Older folks who lived in this town before it became fashionable are being taxed out. Most can't afford to live in a town that they call home because of fixed incomes, watching all the fruits of their labors get taxed to death. These retired folks who fought for our freedoms are being pushed out. I guess everyone has an agenda but this town is as good as it is because of the older folks who made it, many of who have passed on but not forgotten. Just think we all might be talking a different language if it was not for older generation who secured our freedoms. Maybe we should have a new town motto “Stonington for the well to do” "
Ignoramuses wrote on May 22, 2008 9:25 AM:
" Don't you people understand that voting NO on this budget for the second time just reaffirms your lack of support for the education system in Stonington, not to mention the infrastructure of the Town alone? To what end? To save yourselves a few bucks? GET REAL. As a result, town workers are going to lose their jobs, school children may receive an inferior education to those who come from communities where budgets are actually passed. It's time for the self absorbed people of Stonington who voted NO to understand that budgets, as they exist today, are investments in the future of Stonington, an investment in the future of the children of Stonington, and YES, an investment in your own selfish future!!!!!
"
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