Politics & Government

After Voting Against Proposed Budget, Board Of Finance Chair Wants To Hear From The Public

"I wanted a lower budget for the Town of Madison to assist the taxpayers," says BOF Chair Jennifer Tung, citing overall growth in taxes, the slow pace of improvement in the economy, and the recent need for several special appropriations in town.

On Monday, April 22, the public is invited to review and discuss the proposed town and Board of Education budget for 2013-2014 of $74,023,741, a 2.99% increase over 2012-2013. The meeting will be at Polson Middle School at 302 Green Hill Road in Madison, CT at 7:30 p.m. 

The budget includes $22,142,877 for the town, a 4.36% increase over 2012-2013, and a total Board of Education comprehensive budget of $51,880,864.

After 11 budget workshops this year, during which the Board of Finance heard from different town departments and school administrators, and after whittling the proposed town and BOE budget down to $74.02 million from $74.7 million, Board of Finance Chairman was worried that the finance board had not gone far enough in trimming the budget. 

"I wanted a lower budget"

So she voted against it. 

"I wanted a lower budget for the Town of Madison to assist the taxpayers," Tung said. 

She said she is concerned that taxpayers will be facing large tax increases associated with healthcare in 2014.

"The economy is not improving at the pace the budget is growing"

"Everyone, not just the municipal employees.  The taxes at the State and Federal level are growing again this year.  The economy is not improving at the pace the budget is growing and the amount of special appropriations in Madison this year have made it difficult to consider utilizing a large sum from the unassigned fund balance to lower the mil rate as I have encouraged the BOF to do over the past 5 years," she said in an email response to a question about her vote. 

She added that she thinks the reserve funds could grow at half the rate suggested by the Board of Selectmen and that "some new line items in the budget could be removed or added at lower amounts to decrease the overall Town budget."

Still, at the upcoming public hearing, Tung said she will present the budget as approved by the majority of the BOF, and "try to refrain from delivering my opinion."

Referendum on budget is May 14

"That will be my night to hear from the public and take action later according to what I hear and believe is best for the population paying the rise in taxes," she said. 

Board of Finance members Scott Gyllensten, Lisa Marshall Favre, Vice Chairman James K. Matteson, Bennet Pudlin, and Sandy McKissick voted  in favor of the proposed budget that will be discussed at Monday's public hearing. 

Following the public hearing Monday, the Board of Finance will meet again to make any final adjustments to the budget. It will then go to referendum on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 and the mil rate will be set the following day. 

During 11 budget workshops, BOS budget trimmed

During the 11 budget workshops that ran from mid-January to mid-March, the Board of Finance cut the proposed Board of Selectmen budget down, due in part of a decline in expected health insurance claims for 2013-2014. During the March 12 workshop, the board voted to reduce the town health insurance budget by $56,920 and the Board of Education health insurance budget by $335,905 for that reason. 

Also at that meeting, the Board of Finance voted to reduce the town health insurance budget by an additional $25,000 and the Board of Education health insurance budget by an additional  $218,000, after reviewing the balance in the Health Insurance Reserve Fund as of June 30, 2012.

There were other cuts proposed by the Board of Finance as well, most of them at the March 14 workshop, including the following: 

  • reducing the town’s legal services budget by $16,000. The vote was 4 in favor, 2 against (Pudlin, Gyllensten). The motion passed.
  • reducing the Grounds Maintenance budget by $10,000. The vote was 3 in favor, 3 against (Gyllensten, Favre, Pudlin). The motion failed. 
  • reducing the funding to Madison Hose Reserve Funding budget for the SCBA equipment by $20,000. The vote was all in favor, 6-0.
  • reducing the truck replacement for Madison Hose budget by $10,000. The vote was 3 in favor, 3 against (Gyllensten, Favre, Pudlin). The motion failed.
  • reducing the M.A.D.E contribution by $5,000. The vote was 2 in favor, 3 against (McKissick, Gyllensten, Pudlin), with 1 abstention (Matteson). The motion failed.
  • reducing the Purchased Services, Trees by $5,000. The vote was 2 in favor, 4 against (Gyllensten, Matteson, Favre, Pudlin). The motion failed.
  • increasing the Major Roads Reserve Funding budget by $50,000. The vote was 2 in favor, 4 against (Pudlin, Matteson, Favre, McKissick). The motion failed.
  • increasing the revenue budget for the Senior Center Facility rental by $2,000. The vote was all in favor, 6-0. The motion passed. 
  • decreasing the budget for Literacy Volunteers by $1,000. The vote was all in favor, 6-0. The motion passed.
  • increasing the budget for the First Selectman’s Salary by $2,600 (half year of the $5,200 annual increase). The vote was 4 in favor, 2 against (Tung, Gyllensten). The motion passed.
  • reducing the town budget by $8,012 for the change in staffing positions. The vote was all in favor, 6-0. The motion passed.
Finally, at the March 14th meeting, according to the minutes, "the Board of Finance voted to approve the 2013-2014 Town Budget of $22,142,877, 4.36% increase over 2012-2013 and approve the Total Town and Board of Education 2013-2014 Budget of $74,023,741, 2.99% increase over 2012-2013. Vote 5 in favor, 1 against (Tung). Motion passed."

The workshop was adjourned at 10:05 p.m

You can review the full budget at town hall, or online on the town website. 

Here are links to the minutes for the workshops: 



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