Budgets pass, mill rate rises to 10 from 9.5

SALISBURY — Voters approved a $12.7 million budget for the 2011-12 fiscal year at the annual town budget meeting Wednesday, May 18.The vote, conducted by paper ballot, was 74-14.The Board of Finance met immediately afterward and set the mill rate at 10 mills, up from 9.5. The finance board vote was 4-1, with Don Mayland voting against it.There were a few qustions directed at Roger Rawlings, chairman of the Board of Education. Gary Nasiatka said he was “amazed” at any increases in spending at Salisbury Central School (SCS) “in a time of financial crisis.”Rawlings reiterated his explanation from the May 4 public hearing, that much of the increase is in categories the board has little control over, such as fuel oil, changes in health insurance plans and grants that have run out.There were no audience questions for First Selectman Curtis Rand about the municipal budget.The SCS budget is $4,802,422, an increase of $176,262 or 3.81 percent.Salisbury’s contribution to the six-town Region One School District for 2011-12 is $2,991,037, down $31,644 (1.05 percent). The Region One budget passed at a referendum vote May 3.Total education spending for Salisbury for 2011-12, will be $7,793,459 (up $144,618 or 1.89 percent).The proposed selectmen’s budget for town government is $4,948,508, an increase of $54,691 or 1.12 percent over 2010-11. The bottom line number that voters approved for the town of Salisbury for 2011-12 is $12,741,967, an increase of $199,309 or 1.59 percent.The new fiscal year begins July 1.Board of Finance Chairman Bill Willis said that the mill rate increase, combined with this year’s revaluation, means that although property taxes are going up, 65 percent of taxable properties will have a net decrease in their tax bill.Willis said that properties that experience a 6 percent or greater reduction in their new assessment will pay less in net property taxes.Still in play is state aid. Salisbury expects $144,000 in grants, primarily for roads and education. But Gov. Dannell Malloy’s negotiation with state employee unions isn’t quite a done deal, so towns must hold their breath for a while longer. North Canaan, for instance, began its town budget meeting May 17, and promptly adjourned until May 31 in the hope that the state aid picture would be clearer by then.Willis said in the event of a worst-case scenario, the town could make up the $144,000 between long-term surplus and the operating surplus from this year’s budget.