Good news came down Tuesday night for Fairfields Public Library and a handful of nonprofit groups. Fairfield Museum and History Center Executive Director Michael Jehle persuaded the Representative Town Meeting to let his organization keep an increase to its funding from the town.
A group of other Fairfield-based nonprofits the Connecticut Audubon Society and the special needs center the Pilot House also avoided proposed cuts to their funding. Only one nonprofit, Bridgeports Discovery Museum, saw a drop. The Fairfield Public Library also avoided any limits to its book-buying budget for next year. Town Librarian Karen Ronald said the Friends of the Library helped persuade the RTM not even to consider a proposed 10 percent cut.
Its just so heartening to know that people support us, Ronald said after the decision. And theyll get great service next year because of it.
A few RTM members went over the towns spending plan line-by-line in an effort to keep property taxes low. In the end, they cut about $160,000 from town spending outside of the school system. Many of the cuts were small, rolling back requests for items such as printing supplies and postage to this years levels.
By highlighting these items, we accomplished two main goals, said RTM member Michael Mears. Weve raised public awareness of budget details, creating heated discussion of these line items. And second, we created more transparency surrounding the details of the budget.
The largest cuts came from the towns Information Technology Department. Despite protests from director Don Leslie, RTM member David Becker suggested delays in new hardware and software due to the towns economic condition, saving $128,000 from budget.
Later this week, the Board of Finance will set the mill rate, which determines the property taxes to be paid by all homeowners and businesses in Fairfield. The town will need to raise more than $260 million this summer in taxes to cover spending.
The 2010 mill rate was 19.27, meaning every $1,000 in property value produces $19.27 in taxes. This years mill rate will be much higher between 22.45 and 22.50, according to Fiscal Officer Paul Hiller but that is because of a widespread drop in property values in this years revaluation. Because most home values are now lower, about 60 percent of Fairfield taxpayers will have smaller tax bills in 2011.
What do you think of the towns final budget for 2011-12? Share your opinion or ask any questions about the process in the comments below.
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