A proposed budget has been sent to the Brookfield Board of Finance from First Selectman Bill Tinsley. The combined education and municipal budget is proposed at $61.3 million, a 1.8 percent increase in spending. But Tinsley says the budget holds property tax rates at the current level.
The $39.5 million for education, a year over year increase of 2.4 percent, takes into account a declining school-aged population. The $21.98 million for municipal operations is a year over year increase of .75 percent. Tinsley says the plan replenishing the fund balance for the 1-point-2 million dollars overspent by the Board of Education in 2012 and 2013.
There are still some questions on state funding.
Tinsley hopes that Capital projects can be voted on during the budget referendum. There's funding for roads and reserves for fire/ambulance. The four year proposal calls for replacing some Highway Department trucks, converting the Board of Education financial system to MUNIS, and a police vehicle replacement program. The long term debt is for school roofs, the Town Hall roof, a library room and flood abatement fixes in the Meadowbrook Manor neighborhood.
