Budget down 1.8 percent; concerns raised

NORTH CANAAN — It was a thought-provoking public hearing April 26 on proposed 2011-12 spending. Town and North Canaan Elementary School budget proposals total $6,526,058 — a decrease of 1.8 percent over the current budget.Another $3,657,539 is the town’s share of spending for the high school and other regional education services. Voters in the six Region One School District towns went to the polls May 3 to decide on that budget, which totals $14,679,097.Local spending is split 63-37 between the elementary school budget and the town’s, which covers all other expenses, including Town Hall offices, highway department, transfer station, recreation and public safety.In all, the town will need to raise $10.1 million in taxes and other revenues. That’s about $3,400 per resident. Finance Chairman Louis Allyn said he was not anticipating cuts to most state aid, specifically Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants. But nothing is a sure thing yet.“As of now there are no cuts to ECS,” Sen. Andrew Roraback (R-30) wrote in an email to The Lakeville Journal. “However, the state budget has not yet been adopted and we do not know whether the governor will get the concessions he is seeking. If he does not, there is a risk that municipal aid could be cut. I hope not, but we all have to wait and see.”Two issues came to the forefront during the hearing, which brought out a modest crowd. The resident state trooper program will be a separate item on the agenda of the May 17 town meeting, set for 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. Voters will be asked to consider renewal of the two-year contract plus a non-negotiable amount set by the state. Towns pay 70 percent of all associated costs, including salary, benefits and vehicle expenses. The new contract would be $79,890, a $6,977 or 9.6 percent increase. As he has in the past, former Selectman Tom Gailes spoke not against the program but against the added expense. He is among those who feel that having the State Police Troop B barracks in town provides sufficient police coverage. Gailes stressed that he has nothing against the troopers or what the program offers, but that spending should be even more carefully considered at a time when many residents are struggling financially.“It’s an onerous, onerous debt on this town,” Gailes said. “It’s a crisis of economics. The program is over the top of what it was some years ago.”Resident State Trooper Jim Promotico and State Police Sgt. Bob Janco, the town’s former resident trooper who is now back at Troop B, came to the meeting and spoke passionately about what the program provides, including the personal connections between police and citizens.Janco reiterated what has been said before about limited police coverage from Troop B. Four road troopers cover 11 towns and more than 500 square miles. The staff at Troop B is a handful of troopers and civilians on administrative duty and a trooper and a civilian on dispatch.“Just because the building is there doesn’t mean it’s full of people who can respond to calls,” Janco saidWarmer weather means a possible increase in all sorts of crime and emergencies, including overdoses, psychiatric committals and domestic disturbances, as well as special functions that attract crowds and traffic. Two state highways that converge here bring lots of truck traffic and other potential problems.“You wouldn’t believe what comes through on these two thoroughfares,” Janco said.Road troopers can quickly become overwhelmed by need, according to Janco.“At times we’re going from one serious crash to another. Sometimes we have to tell people to exchange information on their own or go to the troop to file a report because we have to go to a more serious crash.”Janco added that the population in North Canaan can essentially double on any given night with campers and guests coming in to the Lone Oak Campsites.“In my opinion, I think you need a second trooper — one to work days and the other evenings.”The personal aspect is that the resident trooper who knows a town and residents well can often solve an investigative crime more quickly. “The resident trooper is also there to serve the needs of the people. He’s in his office. He teaches DARE. You can argue the merits of the DARE program, but I get to know the kids and their parents,” Janco said. DARE is a drug abuse education program for elementary school students.Promotico spoke of a recent, lengthy investigation that ended up in Ashley Falls, Mass., with seven felony weapons charges against a man who is “here every day with weapons on him.”He also spoke of a State Police proposal to absorb Troop B into Troop L in Litchfield.Selectman Susan Clayton asked Promotico if he would be willing to give up a pay increase.It was pointed out that the contract is not negotiable, and that the larger portion of the increase is not salary. Promotico said he took a 3 percent cut in pay and furlough days this past year.Health insurance was questioned by resident Scott Fellows. He wanted to know if consideration was being given to town employees not only contributing to premiums, but being moved to a cost-saving high-deductible plan. At North Canaan Elementary School, teachers are still negotiating but are expected to pay 10 percent of premiums and annual deductibles of up to $3,000.“Is there a discussion of moving town employees to paying a premium share?” Fellows asked the finance board.“Then we have to raise their pay,” Town Treasurer Emily Minacci interjected.“Thank you for that opinion, but I’m not necessarily sure that’s true,” Fellows said.The answer from the finance board was that no changes will be made in this budget.Budget vote moved from May 10 to May 17NORTH CANAAN — The town meeting set for May 10 has been rescheduled to May 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall.Taxpayers will vote on proposed education and municipal budgets at the meeting. The decision by the Board of Finance to change the date was made in anticipation of receiving more information by then about state revenues. The meeting’s agenda will include a vote on $10.1 million in proposed local spending for 2011-12 (the new fiscal year begins July 1). All residents and non-residents who own property assessed at $1,000 or more are eligible to vote.