Budget passes, mill rate rises to 14.27

KENT — On Friday, May 20, a town meeting attended by approximately 40 residents approved the town’s budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year, which begins July 1.First Selectman Bruce Adams called the meeting to order at 8 p.m. Paul Dooley was elected moderator.The $10,814,649 budget proposed by the Board of Finance was approved by voice vote with no changes. This is a 1.65 percent increase over the 2010-11 budget and includes $3,297,352 for the selectmen’s budget, $3,876,088 for the Kent Board of Education, $2,570,853 for the Region One School District and $1,070,356 for debt service and other capital projects.A voter’s amendment to reduce the selectmen’s budget by $50,000 in anticipation of unbudgeted revenue was not approved.Seven housekeeping items were also voted on and approved, including authorization for several boards to apply for, accept and expend federal, state or other grants. Voters approved the recommendation of the Board of Finance for a Five-Year Capital plan.Voters also approved the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance appropriating up to $100,000 to be used as bridge funding for renovations of the Community House with the expectation all such funds will be reimbursed from the state Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant awarded to the town on Sept. 1, 2010.Voters approved a word change to the Codified Ordinance stating that no vehicle may be parked on any street or road maintained by the town between midnight and 7 a.m. between Dec. 1 and April 1. The penalty for violation is towing of the vehicles at the owner’s expense. Town Clerk Darlene Brady explained that a similar ordinance already exists but that the wording had to be revised. To cover the budget for the coming fiscal year, the Board of Finance raised the mill rate from 14.02 to 14.27. Connecticut cities and towns use the mill rate to determine property taxes. One mill represents $1 in real estate tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value. A 14.27 mill rate will cost Kent real estate owners $14.27 for each $1,000 of assessed property value.The 30-minute meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Latest News

Cornwall board approves purchase of two new fire trucks following CVFD recommendation
CVFD reaches fundraising goal for new fire trucks
Provided

CORNWALL — At the recommendation of the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, on Jan. 20 the Board of Selectmen voted to move forward with the purchase of two new trucks.

Greenwood Emergency Vehicles, located in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, was chosen as the manufacturer. Of the three bids received, Greenwood was the lowest bidder on the desired mini pumper and a rescue pumper.

Keep ReadingShow less
Robin Lee Roy

FALLS VILLAGE — Robin Lee Roy, 62, of Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away Jan. 14, 2026.

She was a longtime CNA, serving others with compassion for more than 20 years before retiring from Heartland in Florida.

Keep ReadingShow less
Marjorie A. Vreeland

SALISBURY — Marjorie A. Vreeland, 98, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizons, on Jan. 10, 2026.She was surrounded by her two loving children, Richard and Nancy.She was born in Bronxville, New York,on Aug. 9, 1927, to Alice (Meyer) and Joseph Casey, both of whom were deceased by the time she was 14. She attended public schools in the area and graduated from Eastchester High School in Tuckahoe and, in 1946 she graduated from The Wood School of Business in New York City.

At 19 years old, she married Everett W. Vreeland of White Plains, New York and for a few years they lived in Ithaca, New York, where Everett was studying to become a veterinarian at Cornell. After a short stint in Coos Bay, Oregon (Mike couldn’t stand the cloudy, rainy weather!) they moved back east to Middletown, Connecticut for three years where Dr. Vreeland worked for Dr. Pieper’s veterinary practice.In Aug. of 1955, Dr. and Mrs. Vreeland moved to North Kent, Connecticut with their children and started Dr. Vreeland’s Veterinary practice. In Sept. of 1968 Marjorie, or “Mike” as she wished to be called, took a “part-time job” at the South Kent School.She retired from South Kent 23 years later on Sept. 1, 1991.Aside from office help and bookkeeping she was secretary to the Headmaster and also taught Public Speaking and Typing.In other times she worked as an assistant to the Town Clerk in Kent, an office worker and receptionist at Ewald Instruments Corp. and as a volunteer at the Kent Library.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rafael A. Porro

SALISBURY -— Rafael A. Porro, 88, of 4 Undermountain Road, passed away Jan. 6, 2026, at Sharon Hospital. Rafael was born on April 19, 1937 in Camaguey, Cuba the son of Jose Rafael Porro and Clemencia Molina de Porro. He graduated from the Englewood School for Boys in Englewood, New Jersey and attended Columbia University School of General Studies. Rafael retired as a law library clerk from the law firm of Curtis, Mallet Prevost in 2002 and came to live in Salisbury to be nearer to his sister, Chany Wells.

Rafael is survived by his sister, Chany Wells, his nephew Conrad Wells (Gillian), and by numerous cousins in North Carolina, Florida, Wyoming, Arizona, Cuba and Canada. He was the eldest of the cousins and acknowledged family historian. He will be greatly missed.

Keep ReadingShow less