Budget Presented At Saturday Morning Workshop Points To 5.69% Tax Increase: Taxpayers Asked To Contact BOF Members

Categorized | Around NH, Budget, Meetings

Budget Presented At Saturday Morning Workshop Points To 5.69% Tax Increase: Taxpayers Asked To Contact BOF Members

Posted on 14 March 2011.

We received a copy of an email this morning which is circulating among the town’s taxpayers informing them of the approximately 5.7% property tax increase which would result if the separate components of the budget proposed at this past Saturday’s Budget Workshop were to be adopted as presented. Even though both Boards of Ed (Northwestern Regional #7 and the local New Hartford Schools) will be meeting to consider their proposed budgets again before the Board of Finance’s next meeting on March 22, the originators of the email are concerned enough by the possibility of such a large increase that they are asking the town’s taxpayers to contact members of the Board of Finance to express their concern. Following is a copy of that email:

Re: Property Tax Increase

The budget presented to the Board of Finance Saturday calls for a tax increase of 5.69 % or $ 136.50 per $ 100,000 of valuation on your home.

The typical value of a home in New Hartford is $ 300,000 which would result in an increase of $ 409.50 in property taxes, ($300,000 x .024).

Let’s not forget taxes on Autos as well as the Fire District Tax.

Several BOF members do not think you are concerned because no one has contacted them.

Some BOF members want a ZERO increase in taxes this year.

Please send an e-mail requesting no increase in taxes – This is needed before the next Board of Finance Meeting on March 22.

E-mail addresses for all Board of Finance members:

bwitte@doncasters.com (Chairman)
danlcharest@yahoo.com
jjfitzy@att.net
akennerson8926@charter.net
roy.litchfield@snet.net
wjr_klr@hotmail.com
rsmith@bristolhospital.org
sundquist@att.net.

Please inform other residents of the need to contact the Board of Finance members.

Thank You.

Many Thanks to the Friend of NewHartfordPlus for forwarding us a copy of the above email.

Read the Republican American’s article published today New Hartford Proposes 5.7% Tax Increase.

Our own article on the Saturday morning Budget Workshop will be published tomorrow, Tuesday, March 15, before both Boards of Ed meet.

Gina

To “Test”, Maria, and New Hartford Plus readers,

Below is a copy of the New Hartford Public School’s BOE minutes (draft not approved by Board) and lists the potential cuts the school board would have to make to get to a 0% budget. Keep in mind; this is after years and years of cuts and taking away from the children of New Hartford. Granted the $1,999 musical instrument is a “given” to cut but if these other things are cut, I believe it will adversely affect the education of our children. In the long run it will affect the resale value of your house because our schools may not have the great reputation they have now. I understand that 5.7% is not acceptable for a lot of residents but to expect the BOE to come in at 0% is also not acceptable:

Board of Finance Vote 2011-2012 Budget – On March 12, 2011, the Board of Finance voted and requested that the New Hartford Board of Education present a 0% budget. Steve Tuxbury made a motion to go through the budget and come up with a 0% budget plus an additional $129,698 for the unanticipated Special Education costs. Davis seconded the motion. Bryan Keilty, Steve Tuxbury, Meg Toro and Davis Hoffnagle in favor. Jen Zenuh, Sue Lundin, Mary Misiorski, Elaine Carmelich, and Katie Fisk Natale opposed. Motion failed.

The Board then decided to go through a list of potential cuts to reduce the budget by $223,852 in order to get to a 0% budget. After much deliberation, the following items/positions were identified as possible cuts to achieve a 0% budget:

2 Library Media Assistants -$36,432
1 Grade 5 Teacher - $77,028
1 Curriculum Coordinator – $75,690
Musical Instrument - $ 1,999
Annuity - $ 7,000
Maintenance Projects - $10,678
Technology Equipment - $25,000
Supplies & Textbooks - $ 9,775
Library - $10,000

The above cuts totaled $253,602, less unemployment of $28,860, which brings total cuts to the budget to $224,742; thereby producing a 0% budget.

Steve Tuxbury made a motion to approve the budget as amended. Bryan Keilty seconded the motion. Steve Tuxbury, Bryan Keilty, Davis Hoffnagle were in favor. All others opposed. Motion failed.

Katie Fisk Natale made a motion to provide the list of recommended cuts identified at tonight’s meeting in order to meet the 0% budget as requested by the Board of Finance. Meg Toro seconded the motion. All in favor. Steve Tuxbury and Davis Hoffnagle opposed. Motion carried

http://newhartfordplus.com The NewHartfordPlus Crew

Thanks, Gina. I didn’t realize the minutes were already posted. I’ll still do my own write-up, but it’s nice to have these minutes, too. Much appreciated!

Test

Perhaps an explaination as to what services one would be asking to cut in order to obtain this “no tax increase” would constitute responsible reporting, but maybe you could humor me anyway…

http://newhartfordplus.com The NewHartfordPlus Crew

Would love to be able to do that but that has yet to be decided by the two Boards of Ed. The New Hartford Schools Board of Ed met yesterday evening to make cuts to their proposed budget (they came up with a budget with zero percent increase plus the increase for special ed costs) and Regional # 7 is meeting this evening to review their budget. There are so many things that could be cut in any budget – it all comes down to each person’s priorities. For me to speculate on what they should cut would be merely that, speculation. If anyone else would like to do that, this forum is always open to them – if they’re willing to sign their name. OK, “test”?