Board of Finance Approves Budget, Taxpayers Face 3.25% Hike

Monday evening saw the Board of Finance unanimously approve $109,691,800 in spending for the coming fiscal year, which—subject to the approval of the Representative Town Meeting—will set the 2010-11 tax mill rate at 11.74 and increase Darien residents' tax bills by 3.25 percent.

"This is typically the time that we go out for drinks, but somehow I don't think this is the year," said Chair Murry Stegelmann. "This was one of the more painful budget experiences."

The total appropriation in general fund allowances allocates $38,179,759 to the Selectmen's Operating Budget and $71,512,041 to the Board of Education. An appropriation of $2,016,720 for capital and non-recurring expenditures was also adopted, as well as the authorization to borrow up to $5 million to cover general expenses in the event of an interruption with the tax collection.

Considering the town's last complete grand list with a total net assessment of $8.74 billion, the adopted budget requires the tax rate to rise from 11.37 to 11.74 mills. In other words, if a house is assessed at $1 million this year (70 percent its market value), its property taxes are $11,370 and would rise to $11,740 next year—a $370 increase.

Ultimate approval rests in the hands of the RTM, and the legislative body's vote on May 10 will mark the end of months of considered debate.

Since Town Administrative Officer Karl Kilduff first presented the town's proposed budget in January, the Board of Selectmen has made $78,000 in nips and tucks, the majority of which came this past week at the reconsideration of First Selectman Dave Campbell's proposal to reduce a full-time Planning & Zoning position and nix the fire inspector.

The decision met less than rave reviews, and at the request of the Board of Finance, selectmen found $68,000 to cut elsewhere in the budget, including Campbell's approved salary raise.

"I'm not buying the beers tonight," said Campbell.

Liz Mao of the Board of Finance expressed her frustration with the budget "process," on the town side.

"I hope next year's a smoother process. There was too much confusion over who was proposing what," Mao said. "We spend a lot of time visiting with different departments, and it's difficult to come back and have a lot of things changed."

As for the Board of Education, little has changed with regards to the recommended operating budget. The majority of cuts are seen on the capital side, where longstanding plans for a new gym floor at Middlesex, the renovation of a portable classroom at Ox Ridge and an increasingly expensive library window project at Royle School have all been slashed. The capital cuts top $300,000 and according to Chair Kim Westcott, only add pressure to the Board of Education's long-term capital plan.

"We didn't make it easy on you folks," said Superintendent of Schools Don Fiftal. "It was difficult all around, but we did do a serious job of cutting back."

The 2010-11 fiscal year will see all three boards—finance, education and selectmen—meet on a quarterly basis to discuss the budget standing.

The Board of Education faces a deficit in excess of $200,000 for the current fiscal year; it's the talking point of Tuesday's special 7 p.m. meeting, which Stegelmann said he plans to attend.