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The spending plan will increase by about $6.47 million or 5.15 percent from the current year.
The council took out the purchase of license plate readers for the police department, reducing the spending plan by $20,000 compared with the plan sent from the town’s Board of Finance last month.
The Board of Education spending plan was approved at $77.94 million, the same as the finance board’s proposal, although several council members wanted to reduce it by $226,000 for security upgrades.
Council member E. Roger Williams, who proposed the cut, suggested it because of the new state legislation regarding tougher gun laws, mental health and school security may change the measures the school district will make. Also, there may be grants available to fund upgrades, he said.
But council member Christine Hussey opposed the cut because, after talking with parents and others in town, she feels people want to see action taken. “They don’t want us to wait,” Hussey said, adding that other towns have already implemented security measures.
The Town Council was only able to cut the spending plan it received from the Board of Finance but not add to it.
The upcoming fiscal year runs from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014.
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