Happy Spring! It has been a long, but productive, budget season, and I am happy to say that it is coming to a close. Our town departments have worked very hard over the last four months to bring forth a plan that remains fiscally responsible while also allowing the town to provide the quality services our residents have come to expect. The Board of Finance has approved the FY 25/26 Budget with an overall increase of 3.44%, a .78 increase to the mill rate.
The Selectman’s budget has an overall increase of 2.59%, $474,569
Major drivers to this year’s budget include:
Health insurance: increase of 20% over last year’s budgeted amount, just under $350,000.
This is due to an increase of major claims and half of the overall requested increase. For those unaware, the Town’s insurance that is provided to employees is self-funded. At a minimum, the cost to the Town per individual on each plan is around $24,000/year while family plans cost around $30,000/year. For any major claims, the Town is obligated to pay for the amount up to $200,000 which is when our stop-loss insurance kicks in and covers any amount over. Insurance is offered to most current and retired employees up until Medicare/Medicaid becomes available.
Public Utilities: increase of $73,447
Public Utilities include trash collection, electricity, and the cost associated with fire hydrants.
Police Department: increase of $108,644
These increases include almost $90,000 in contractually obligated increases to unionized officers and smaller increases to the operating budget.
Public Works: increase of $42,230
Increases due to contractual wage increases and inflationary increases to maintenance line items.
Operating changes and savings include:
-Remove full-time (FT) Assistant to the DPW Director, merged with Executive Assistant to the First Selectman
-Remove full-time Rec and Sports Programmer that was added last year.
-Remove full-time Town Clerk position, added a part-time position which still leaves two overall F/T positions in the office
-Add part-time (PT) Prison Supervisor. We currently have one that oversees three prisoners in our Prisoner Work Program 3 days/week. This position will expand those work services to the entire week.
-Add two part-time Parks and Rec Event Coordinators to reduce overtime and coordinate and assist with programs and events
-Add part-time Administrative Assistant to the Fire Chief. That position will work 10 hours/week
-Additional funding for Library books
-Additional funding to Community Service programming
-Additional training funds across departments
A Town Meeting to approve next year’s budget will be held on May 7 at 7 p.m. in the Middle School Auditorium.
The Board of Selectmen have recently approved the following and referred to a Town Meeting which will be held on a date to be determined in the summer:
-Right to Farm Ordinance
-Renewed leases of Town owned property to Nowak and Bielonko Farms
-Transfer of Phelps Road Cemetery to the Mountain Burying Ground Association
Some events in Town for the month of May include:
-Sustainable Suffield’s Town-Wide Tag Sale May 17 and 18. You can sign-up to have your house put on the tag sale map on our Town website.
-Memorial Day Parade and Service. Step-off starts at 9:15 a.m.
-Rotary Day of Service: Join the Suffield Rotary Club at Hilltop Farm May 17, 8 a.m.
-Veteran’s Breakfast May 3, 9-11 a.m.
-First Selectman’s Coffee Hour is May 2 and 16 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Café Barista
Don’t forget to check out the spring and summer events and programs held by Community Services and the Library.
Enjoy spring and as always, my door is always open at Town Hall.