Bethel finance board works for residents

It is budget time again and the debate for the hearts, minds and checkbooks of the Bethel taxpayers has begun. The Board of Finance has proposed a $3.3 million, or 6.5 percent, spending increase over the current tax year. Excluding debt service, which increases 19 percent in this budget as a result of past voter approval of town building projects, the budget increase is $2.6 million, or 5.5 percent.

The Board of Education portion, which will increase 5.9 percent, is 72 percent of this increase. The superintendent of schools has suggested program and staff cuts to accommodate the reduction of $1.2 million from the $3 million (9.7 percent increase) originally requested. The Board of Education and others are saying that a $1.84 million increase is not enough.

Needless to say, any budget increase on the education side translates into a higher-than-6 percent mill rate increase and means that sector will obtain an even larger portion of our limited tax resources.

It is good news that the increase in the Grand List of $29 million has allowed the Board of Finance to keep the mill rate increase slightly lower than the spending level (6 percent vs. 6.5 percent).

The Board of Finance has worked long and hard to arrive at this budget and I thank them for looking out for the interests of all the taxpayers and not a select group. The budget hearing and the May vote will determine whether we travel the low or high tax road. Please participate!