Kent has more end-of-fiscal-year money than expected

KENT — Town Treasurer Barbara Herbst shared some good news with the selectmen at their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 5. It turns out that the town is in unexpectedly good financial shape this year. Kent saved a significant amount of money from this fiscal year’s appropriation; and the town took in more revenue than expected. Herbst reported a total of $136,497 in unanticipated revenues from various departments. That figure includes an extra $41,689 in tax penalties, $4,825 in building permits, $7,446 from the transfer station, and $56,283 from the Planning and Zoning Commission. A large portion of the revenues from the Planning and Zoning Commission came from the Kent School’s application for permits to construct a new dormitory on the campus. An additional $31,000 in revenues came in from Kent Center School, for tuition from out-of-town students who attend the school. Only one tuition-paying student was anticipated in this year’s budget, but three more students ended up paying to attend the school. In addition to the $136,497 in excess revenues, the amount of property taxes collected to date are $90,000 above the targeted amount, bringing the total amount of unbudgeted money brought into the town this year to $226,497. Herbst also made a preliminary estimate that $73,500 budgeted to several town departments will not be spent this year. Herbst also recently completed a negotiation with the town’s insurance company that has been going on since September 2009. The premiums for the worker’s compensation portion of the insurance are calculated based on an estimate of the payroll for the coming year. At the end of the year, the town is required to report to the insurance company what the actual payroll numbers are. Depending on the level of accuracy, the insurance company will either refund or bill the town for more money at the end of the year. In 2009, the town’s insurance company, CIRMA, sent a bill for $17,000 for worker’s compensation. Noting the excessively high number, Herbst decided to look into the situation before paying the bill. At the end of the negotiation period in March 2011, Herbst not only had convinced the insurer to erase the bill for $17,000 — she even negotiated a refund of $834. Kent will also be eligible for refunds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency because the state of Connecticut was declared a disaster area after a heavy storm on Jan. 11, 2011. Towns can get reimbursed for extra funds that were spent beyond the regular payroll for snow clean-up services. Herbst has estimated that the town will be eligible to receive between $13,000 and $15,000 in relief money.