January 16, 2024
Present: First Selectman Mark Fiorentino, Selectmen Mark Neumann, Kelly Rome, Margaret Chapple and Frederick Moffa, BOE Chair Monica Logan, Superintendent of Schools Cheri Burke, BOE Business Manager Anna Robbins, BOE members Rosemarie Weber, David Peling, Donna Nolan, Heather Lombardo, and Liz Barlow, BOF Chair Michael B. Guarco, Jr., BOF members Jenny Emery, Kevin F. Hobson, James Tsaptsinos, Alfred G. Wilke and William J. Kennedy, Town Treasurer John Adams. Town Clerk Scott Nolan, Finance Director Kimi Cheng, Public Works Director Kirk Severance, Library Director Amber Wyzik, Human Services Director Sandra Yost, Building Inspector Joel Skilton, Director of Community Development Abigail Kenyon, Chief of Police Scott Sansom, Director of Recreation and Leisure Services Kristine Vincent.
Plus One Budget
The Town of Granby works within a budget process that includes a “Plus-One Budget” and that budget requires the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Education meet with the Board of Finance to review expenditure needs and fund balance expectations for the upcoming fiscal year. This is a high-level view of big-ticket items such as contractual obligations, anticipated benefits and insurance costs, utilities, and other mandated expenses. The Plus-One Budget also addresses items believed to be important to maintaining service levels and addressing issues identified in the town’s strategic goals and objectives that include modernizing IT infrastructure and systems, increasing the investments in public safety, and addressing staffing and human resource matters.
Logan gave an overview of the BOE budget and noted that contractual obligations are up 4.34 percent which includes salaries, benefits, health plan, transportation, fuel, oil and electricity, and that special education is up 2.43 percent which includes out-of-district tuition, out-of-district transportation and personnel. Logan reviewed all other areas which resulted in an overall total reduction of 0.34 percent
Guarco said that this meeting allows the BOF an early opportunity to get a sense of what is coming. Chairman Guarco explained the worksheet that was presented at last FY’s budget time and noted that the current sheet shows a mill rate change of 0.5 percent and that the revenue picture was strong due to the car tax money. The Grand List was due at the end of January and the Governor would be addressing the legislature in early February—it is possible more will be known about the state budget and what the Town of Granby can expect.
Public Comment
Susan Regan (62 Hungary Road) spoke about East Street Farm, Kearns School and 137 Salmon Brook and said the town needs to look at unloading these properties.
Bill Regan (62 Hungary Road) spoke about the school system. He feels the test scores were abysmal, with a 40 percent math score and the reading scores a little bit better. He said the town was rewarding teachers who have not done their job, the kids were not learning up to where they should and that we have to hold the Board of Education and the teachers accountable.