Stonington Holds Annual Town Budget Meeting

Stonington held its Annual Town Budget Meeting Monday night at . A referendum vote on the $55,276,098 town budget is set for May 24.

The recommended budget for the fiscal year 2011-2012 beginning on July 1, 2011 sets the mill rate at 15.63 a .20 mills or a 1.28 percent increase from the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

Few residents turned out to the meeting, which lasted about 30 minutes but those that did were quick to voice concerns. Among the questions asked were why the meeting wasn’t publicized more, why residents who do not benefit from the Water Pollution Control Authority are expected to subsidize it and a question on $1 line item for dog damages which is actually mandated by the state.

Zoning Officer Joe Larkin spoke as full-time and presented the board with documents.

“Documents show the work hasn’t really slowed,” Larkin said.

First Selectman Edward Haberek has stated the why when asked to cut additional funds from his proposed budget he recommended the reduction of the zoning official position hours from full-time to half-time. 

Here is the budget breakdown by department for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. A complete copy of the recommended budget is available on the Town of Stonington website.

• Office of the Selectman: $900,415
• Department of Administrative Services: $3,715,339
• Department of Finance $1,495,394
• Debt Service: $4,405,254
• Department of Planning & Land Use: $379,527
• Department of Public Works: $6,066,455
• Department of Police Services $4,551,893
• Department of Human Services $968,355
• Board of Education: $31,900,913
• Schedule C Land, Buildings, Improvements & Equipment: $892,553
• Total Expenditures: 55,276,098

On May 24 polls will open at 6:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. The three polling places will be the , the and the