A Wait And See Budget Process In Stonington

The Town of Stonington will wait and see what happens with state aid before scheduling a Town Meeting and referendum vote on the town’s proposed budget.

Stonington is set to receive $2 million in municipal aid from the state, but could lose as much as $824,000 under Gov. Dannel Malloy’s “Plan B” budget.

“It’s a significant decrease,” First Selectman Edward Haberek Jr., said.

Malloy unveiled his “Plan B” budget last week as an alternative to balance the budget if state workers under unions don’t agree to wage freezes and furloughs, that would save the state an estimated $1 billion a year.

The Stonington Board of Finance approved the proposed $55,276,098 budget at a finance meeting . After the Board of Finance approves the budget the Board of Selectmen meet to call a Town Meeting and then referendum vote.

But the town will now wait until Malloy’s budget is in place so they will know the amount of municipal aid they will receive.

“It’s a waiting game,” Haberek, said adding it makes the process much more difficult.

Haberek said they expect Malloy will have his budget in place by May 6 at which point they will know if Stonington will receive the full $2 million in state aid, lose $824,000, or some amount in between depending on what Malloy decides.

At which point the Board of Finance will have to decide what to cut, or how much to raise the mill rate, or to use money from the town’s reserve fund or a combination to make up the difference.

Haberek said any amount $300,000 or more would be detrimental to the town.

After knowing Malloy’s budget, Haberek expects on May 9 the Board of Selectmen will call for a special town meeting most likely on May 16 and then a referendum vote on May 24.