Somers Selectmen Approve 2012 Proposed Budget

The  has approved a nearly $28.3 million budget and will now present it to the Board of Finance in a joint meeting on Monday.

The proposed budget totals $28,254,522, which is down slightly from the current budget of $28,514,484.

The proposed total budget is lower than the current total budget because some debt service is retiring, like the Maple Ridge Sewer Project, as well a reduction in interest – for projects like the School Building Project and the library and fire department renovations.

The total budget includes the town budget, the  and the debt service budget.

For the town government portion of the proposed budget, the selectmen are asking for $6,718,822, which is up $299,325, or 4.66 percent, from the current budget.

These costs have been called "uncontrollable" and are in preparation for the future.

First Selectwoman Lisa Pellegrini says that the board included significant amounts for unemployment – based on the new requirements, vacation separation in case long term employees retire, future revaluation, the MIRMA workmen’s compensation assessment, full pension funding for fire department and town employees, and other items.

Pellegrini said that she is very comfortable with this budget.

"The town went through the budget process differently this year," she said. "We started at zero and looked at everything that was spent during an 18-month time period to determine what each line item should actually be budgeted for." 

Pellegrini said that some costs, including those for animal control and information technology, were reigned in and are now more realistic.

"We did some good things," she said.