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Falls Village airs proposed budget

FALLS VILLAGE — The Friday, March 31 public hearing on the proposed spending plans for education and municipal spending was uneventful except for some minor technical difficulties with the Zoom feed.

About 30 people showed up in person at the Emergency Services Center, and three people were online.

School board chair Pat Mechare was asked about the price of propane for the Lee H. Kellogg School.

Mechare said that contract is negotiated by Region One Business Manager Sam Herrick for the six K-8 schools and Housatonic Valley Regional High School, so she did not have any particulars other than observing that Herrick had found that some propane suppliers are not willing to do business with schools.

Board of Finance chair Dan Silverman asked Mechare if she would get an answer to the question in time for the Board of Finance meeting Monday, April 10. Mechare said she would.

During his presentation First Selectman Henry Todd said that several capital accounts “needed help” and received boosts in the selectmen’s spending plan.

He said the town has not been putting enough into the accounts for replacing fire trucks, ambulances and highway department trucks.

“If we didn’t have volunteer fire and ambulance it would cost us millions,” he said. “So it’s up to us to do this.”

Todd also said the town has a stellar record of getting the most bang for its vehicle buck.

“Our town keeps trucks running longer and better than any other town in the state.”

Silverman thanked both Mechare and Todd. “We appreciate all you’ve done to control costs.”

The proposed budget for municipal spending has a total of $2,247,689, an increase of $110,455 (5.17%).

The proposed spending for all education is $3,639,209, an increase of $17,669 (.49%).

The  Region One assessment for Falls Village is $1,402,578, a decrease of $94,678 (6.32%).

The spending plan for Lee H. Kellogg School has a bottom line of $2,236,631, an increase of $112,347 (5.29%).

The proposed spending plans are available on the town website.

Patrick L. Sullivan

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