Middletown council approves $130.2 million budget

The Middletown Common Council agreed Thursday to add $1.2 million to the city’s education budget – returning the budget to funding levels requested by the district.

In a 10-2 vote the Council agreed to add the $1.2 million to Mayor Sebastian Guiliano’s proposed budget after the school district warned that the cuts suggested by the mayor could result in teacher layoffs, the loss of after-school programs and the termination of after school sports.

The total $130.2 million city budget represents a 1.1 percent decrease in spending. During a public hearing on April 28 the Council heard from teachers, students and parents opposed to the suggested cuts.

Over the ensuing week both the Democratic and Republican caucuses met to discuss the budget.“There were three long nights of discussion, some arguments, some debates,” explained Councilman Ronald Klattenberg Thursday. The Council finished drawing up the numbers for the new budget as late as Monday, putting the finishing touches on the budget the following day.

Council members say they were able to identify savings from the city’s insurances and from a city retirement incentive. This, coupled with cuts from other parts of the budget and help from the town’s fund balance, in addition to better than expected education revenue from the state, allowed the Council to indentify $1.14 million in savings and put that money back into the budget.In particular the Council agreed to add $10,000 to the Kid’s Arts section of the budget – which includes funding for after-school programs such as the Oddfellows Playhouse, $41,274 to hire three additional police officers and $50,000 to hire two additional firefighters.

Offset by cuts in other areas the budget was increased by only $41,127 over the mayor’s proposed budget while reducing taxes by three-tenths of a mill to 26.1 mills.“This equates to a $60 savings for an average homeowner in a house assessed at $200,000,” explained Councilman Daniel Drew.

While Drew’s fellow councilman, David Bauer said he was glad that taxes were going to be reduced, he still expressed reservations regarding the revised budget and taxes long term. “I do fear it is short lived,” he said. According to Bauer, the Council should be planning its  budgets as far out as possible to take into account financial difficulties that might be coming down the road concerning the economy or state funding.

“This budget doesn’t look beyond the present year,” he argued. “The city is blindly headed into the future.”

Majority Leader Thomas Serra reiterated that Middletown is on a financially sound footing, though he recognized state funding is still an issue.“I am concerned relative to the state’s fiscal difficulties,” he said. Yet he noted, every year there is talk that the “sky is falling” which in each case turns out not to be true.

“This is my 18th year here and the sky hasn’t fallen yet,” added Councilman Gerald Daley. “Lets try to be positive.” If a member has a better idea or an amendment to improve the budget, “he or she should put that forward,” he argued rather than focusing on “doom and gloom.”Councilman James Streeto recalled conversations he has had with the public.

“Nobody wants to be overtaxed in anticipation that state aid will be cut,” he said. Bauer wasn’t the only one to express reservations. “I find it hard to support this budget,” Councilwoman Deborah Kleckowski said. She took exception to the fact that the budget was presented to members five minutes before the meeting.

“It doesn’t give the public a chance to review it,” she argued. “We don’t know the impact of the proposed changes in the directors’ view.”To approve the revised budget she argued would be to do so blindly. “I find that irresponsible,” she remarked.

Kleckowski and Bauer both voted against the revised budget.While her fellow members agreed that time was short in revising and passing the budget, they pointed out that is the result of statutory requirements regarding when they are required to pass the budget.

According to Serra, the Common Council used to pass the budget in April but moved the decision later into May in order to be better apprised of what amount of funding the city would be receiving from the state.Meanwhile, Minority Leader Philip Pessina said he, too, had worries about this year’s budget – in particular what level of funding the city will be receiving from the state – overall he felt the budget was a good one.

“I look at this budget as a win,” he told those gathered.Pessina said he hopes the school district will take the $1.2 million being added to their budget and make sure no teachers are laid off. “It is never a good thing to lay off a teacher because our children, our youth need education,” he argued. “We are going to be watching the board.” It was a point also made by Majority Leader Thomas Serra.

“We expect…that there be no layoffs of anyone,” Serra told those gathered Thursday.Members still voiced concerns about how the Board of Education is spending funds appropriated for its use.“We do not have better transparency in our finances particularly to the Board of Education side,” argued Daley. “We need to have greater transparency on what the board is spending on.”

In a city known at times for its rough and tumble politics members felt that both sides came together this year to craft a responsible budget.“Bipartisanship is needed now more than ever,” pointed out Pessina. “I truly believe we are on the path to doing that.”While members may be of differing parties Streeto explained they all have the same goals. “We’re all part of the same community,” he noted.

After the revised budget was passed, Guiliano explained that his objections to portions of the budget represented merely a difference of priority, adding that in such cases the executive branch should give the legislative branch precedence.

“I will not be using my veto option,” he informed those gathered Thursday. “I don’t think what we’ve did tonight is going to result in any significant crisis.”