New Milford residents are voting on a budget today. The municipal proposed budget is $38.2 million. The schools are asking for $62.8 million.
The New Milford Board of Finance rejected a plan approved by the Town Council which included $1.2 million in revenue from the sale of town properties and increasing the Sewer Commission's payments to the town. The Board of Finance also cut $1.5 million from the municipal budget because of a miscalculation, which double counted some revenue.
The New Milford Superintendent of Schools has outlined where certain cuts would have to be made because the Board of Finance approved a budget smaller than they requested. There are also some unknowns when it comes to state education aid. The proposed school budget is still $1.1 million more than the current fiscal year.
The first place cuts will be made are to insurance and workmen's comp. The next year would be to put off new initiatives , including the purchase of a digital fingerprint scanner. Cuts will then be made to sports gear, field trips and personnel.