Council Cuts $750,000 From Budget in Response to Vote

Saying they had to respond to the mandate of the voters, Republicans on the Town Council made $750,000 in cuts to the recommended budget, over the objections of Democrats John Vibert and Mike Demicco.

The cuts, after the first town budget failed at a referendum Thursday, take $450,000 from the Board of Education’s operating budget, $110,000 from the Town operating budget and $190,000 from the capital improvement plan. $40,000 of the cuts to capital are on the education side and $150,00 from the town.

The new budget results in an increase of 2.34 percent over last year and a 2.98 percent tax increase – down from the original 3.97.

But the lower number comes at a price that council members couldn’t agree was good for the town. The earlier mantra of maintaining services was abandoned and council members said they were instead being responsive to the message voters sent from the polls.

“This isn’t maintenance, this isn’t trying to keep up, this is falling behind,” said Council member CJ Thomas. “This will have an effect on the town – everyone – they will all feel what’s happening here.”

“In my view it is not good judgment to do what we’re going to do tonight,” Demicco said. "These cuts are not in the best interest of the town of Farmington: the young people, the old people and everyone in between. I couldn’t look myself in the mirror tomorrow, if I voted for this."

Town Manager Kathy Eagen prepared a list of cuts to the town’s operating budget for the council to choose from. Normally, the council looks to Eagen for her guidance, but Friday night she handed the decision back.

“I know you want some priorities, but I don’t feel comfortable,” Eagen told them. "When we’re talking about this level of service reduction, I think you have to decide."

The council cut the entire list, except for a few: funding for fireworks at the firemen’s carnival, funds for Focus, and summer help with grounds maintenance.

Savings came to $110,000 by getting rid of a part-time clerk to help with real estate revaluation, membership in the lobbying group COST and the Visitor’s Association, enhancements to dispatcher equipment, a yearly professional conference for non-unionized employees, reduction of an AARP tax program for Senior Center computers, reduction in rides to the Senior Center and changing a full-time clerk position to a half-time position through attrition. The council also voted to reduce the leaf collection overtime from $52,000 to $8,525. Eagen said crews normally work extra hours and Saturdays within a short window to try to get the leaves up. In cutting the overtime, crews would try to get it all done during regular work hours. It could result in leaves being left on the ground until spring, Eagen said.

From the town’s capital plan, Eagen recommended holding off another year on spending $170,000 to replace the 27-year-old dump truck.

“Again, I’ll say I would prefer not to do this,” she said. The dump truck has a life expectancy of 15 to 17 years, she said, but to save money she suggested deferring it another year and instead buying a less expensive road maintenance vehicle slated to be replaced next year.

The council approved the change, and not replacing a supervisor’s SUV for the police department. The town has a policy of trying to replace three 24-hour vehicles (used 24 hours every day) each year.

Demicco objected. “We’re creating problems for ourselves in this area for next year.”

Clark reminded him again, “There are at least five of us who believe the taxpayers told us to cut spending.”

The Republicans repeatedly said Thursday’s referendum vote was a message to cut, but all said it was painful, especially listening to possible cuts to education.

The Board of Education has authority to decide where cuts will be made on its side, both in the operating and capital budgets. Chairman Mary Grace Reed presented a list of cuts to the council that would be presented to the Board of Education for action at its next meeting.

“It’s not a list the board has seen, but it is a list the board is going to see,” she said.

On the list was a custodian (a late retirement), a half-time English teacher at Farmington High School, a half-time Capstone advisor and a half-time physical education teacher. The cut to physical education would change Farmington High School graduation requirements, allowing junior and senior students to get credit for playing sports in lieu of gym class. It would reduce a receptionist at the Board of Education offices to four hours a day, and would remove $150,000 for technology funding from the budget.

A fifth-grade teacher, a sixth-grade teacher, a high school French teacher, and the second-grade strings program are also on the list, Reed said, as is an increase in pay-to-play by $25. The current fee is already $100 per child, per season, per sport with a $400 maximum.

Council member Charlie Keniston asked Reed what she had heard from parents.

“Right now I’m hearing people say, ‘I want to move, you have so many losses to programs here,’” she responded.

The resulting budget is $86,872,086, with an increase of  0.61 mills.

“I can go along with all the other cuts, but I can’t support a budget that’s going to knock off five more teachers,” Vibert said. “To balance this budget on the backs of fifth- and sixth-graders and on French students … I can’t support that.”

Charlie Keniston, who alone voted against the original budget, said the new budget leaves little room for new cuts.

“I’ll go on record as saying if it gets defeated I don’t see how it could be reduced by more than a dollar. … We don’t have any more room to improve it,’ he said.

Nancy Nickerson and Patty Stoddard both said they felt the cuts are painful but necessary.

“It’s important for people to know it’s not just a general cut,” Stoddard said. “It’s going to impact the kids in the classroom. I think it goes to show what happens when the budget fails and they have to make cuts – there’s nowhere to go and they’re going to have to cut the teachers. ... It’s too low, but it’s something we’re going to have to live with right now, so May 19, support the budget.”

The second annual town meeting, at which the budget will be presented for public review and comment, will be Monday, May 9, 7 p.m. at Farmington High School. The second referendum on the budget will be 10 days later, on May 19 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at regular polling places. If the budget fails again, the council must reduce the budget again and approve it.