741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Finance Committee

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Kevin J. Dombrowski

Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Budget Work Session

Thursday, March 9, 2023

12:00 PM

Town Hall Annex Building - Hybrid

Format

In -Person Council Chambers - Town Hall Annex Builidng

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CALL TO ORDER

The Work Session was called to order by Councilor Saums at 12:00 p.m.

Councilor Saums welcomed all to the Video Conference Meeting; and he

noted that the remote meeting information for the Town Council Finance

Committee Budget Work Session and members of the Public to participate in

this afternoon’s meeting was available on the Agenda that was posted on the

Town’s Website - Granicus-Legistar Meeting Portal.

II.

ROLL CALL

Attendee NameTitle

Andra Ingalls Town Councilor

Tim Ryan Town Councilor

Bill Saums Town Councilor

Kevin Dombrowski Town Council Chairman

Mary McGrattanTown Councilor

Gary Paul Town Councilor

S. Naomi RodriguezTown Councilor

Fred Allyn III Mayor

Matthew Bonin Finance Director

Ian StammelAssistant Finance Director

Kristen Chapman Mayor’s Executive Assistant

Don Steinhoff Administrator of Human Resources

Juliet HodgeDirector of Land Use

Tony CaponPlanning & Zoning Commission Chairman

Steve Masalin Public Works Director/Town Engineer

Jason Hartling Superintendent of Schools

Wayne Donaldson BOE Director of Grounds and Facilities

Roxanne MaherAdministrative Assistant

IV.

PRESENTATIONS /

Fiscal Year 2023/2023 Budget Review with Department Heads

(Please Note: Scheduled times are tentative - The Finance Committee intends to adhere to

the schedule as noted below)

12:00 p.m. Mayor Fred Allyn, III

12:30 p.m. Finance Department - Finance Director Matthew Bonin & former Finance

Director Marcia Hancock

12:45 p.m. Administrator of Human Resources Don Steinhoff

1:00 p.m. Land Use Departments - Director Juliet Hodge

Ø Economic Development

Ø Building Department

Ø Planning & Zoning

Ø Inland Wetland & Water Courses

1:30 p.m. Public Works - Director Steve Masalin

1:45 p.m. Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)

2:00 p.m. Budget Work

12:00 p.m.Mayor Fred Allyn, III

Mayor Allyn stated in accordance with Chapter VII; Section 3 of the Town

Charter he submitted his proposed Fiscal Year 2023/2024 to the Town

Council on Monday, March 6, 2023 (first Monday in March) in the amount

of $65,476,753 which was an increase of $3,254,548 or 3.19% over the

current year’s budget and would call for a 35.04 mil rate for a 1.22 mil

increase.

Mayor Allyn noted the proposed Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Budget was

comprised of a General Government budget in the amount of $29,568,385 a

$613,484 increase or 2.21 % over the current Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Budget;

and a Board of Education budget in the amount of $35,908,368 an increase of

$1,353,048 or 3.92% over the current Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Budget. This

Budget would call for a mil rate of 35.04 representing a 1.22 mil increase. He

stated there were still some changes that could occur in the budget to save

the town money, however, he explained that he was not prepared to make

those changes at the time was budget was due. Therefore, he stated that there

was more work that the Finance Committee could do to bring the mil

increase down to a 0.8 mil increase and that he was willing to discuss those

additional budget adjustments as the Town Council’s Finance Committee

worked through the process to prepare a preliminary budget to present to the

townspeople at the April 17, 2023 Public Hearing.

Mayor Allyn went on to address the budget format noting that they had some

minor technical difficulties this year with the cloud-based software Clear

Gov. He stated this was a good example of issues that can occur when the

Cloud-Based Software goes down. However, he stated they were able to get

the budget together and filed on-time, but that he would like to discuss with

the Town Council the option to move away from the $22,000 Clear Gov

program and more fully utilize their Munis Financial Software for budget

preparation going forward, noting that they would be still be able to provide

graphs and charts for the public from the spreadsheets that Munis provides.

Mayor Allyn proceeded by presenting an overview of proposed Budget as

follows:

Proposed Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Budget Summary (General Government and

Board of Education)

Ø Fiscal Year 2023/2024 proposed budget combined total amount was

$65,476,743 for a total budget increase in the amount of

$3,254,548.

· General Government budget of $29,568,375

(increase of

$613,483 or 2.12%)

· Board of Education budget of $35,908,368 (increase $1,353,048 or

3.92%)

Ø Revenues:

· The Grand List net total was $1,247,427,375 an increase of

$39,232,784 or 1.28%.

· Taxes $43,846,477 an increase of 4.4% - Provides 68.2% of Ledyard’s

revenues.

· Intergovernmental $16,365,250 an increase of 0.4% - Provides 25%

of Ledyard’s revenues.

· Charges and Fees $3,126,923 a decrease of 7.7% - Provides 4.8% of

Ledyard’s revenues.

· Investment Earnings $300,000 an increase of 275% - Provides 0.5% of

Ledyard’s revenues.

· Other Finance Sources $1,055,500 a decrease of 15.6% - Provides

1.6% of Ledyard’s revenues.

Mayor Allyn stated the Assessor’s Grand List for the 2022 Valuation of all

Real and Personal Property yielded a modest overall increase of 1.28%;

comprised of the following Real Estate 0.71%; Personal Property 0.69%; and

Motor Vehicles 5.43% which was a more moderate increase. He explained

that due to the State’s mandated Motor Vehicle Tax Cap of 32.46 mils, that

Ledyard was being reimbursed through a State Grant in the amount of

$213,782 t make up he difference of 1.36 mil spread between our 33.96 mil

rate and the State’s motor vehicle tax cap. He stated the State Legislature

was currently considering a replacement taxation model for motor vehicles,

utilizing the MSRP (Sticker Price) in year one, followed by a 5% annual

depreciation schedule. He stated that currently, all Connecticut

Municipalities use the NADA book value for auto valuations.

Mayor Allyn continued to address the Grand List and Mil Rate noting

that nearby "comparable" towns had Grand Lists that were two to three

times greater than that of Ledyard. He stated East Lyme’s Grand List

was 2.21 larger, Stonington’s was 2.38 times larger, and Waterford’s

was 2.81 times larger than Ledyard’s Grand List. He stated a larger

Grand List allowed for a more even distribution of the tax burden, and

he pointed out that these town’s Grand List had a greater proportion of

commercial/industrial valuations, which lessened the tax burden on their

resident homeowners.

Mayor Allyn went on to state that Ledyard's Mil Rate was the highest of

comparable populated towns in Southeastern, Connecticut and the fourth

highest in New London County. The next nearest (by mil rate)

comparable size town was Waterford with a mil rate of 27.56; which

was 22.7% lower than Ledyard’s mil rate. He stated that Ledyard’s

Grand List growth was still lagging, noting that Montville, East Lyme,

Stonington and Waterford all had substantially larger Grand Lists than

Ledyard. He stated with Montville being the most comparable by Grand

List size that its Grand List was still 23% greater in dollar value than

Ledyard.

Mayor Allyn went on to state that Ledyard has continued to aggressively

seek Grant funding noting that the town was previously awarded Small

Town Economic Assistance Program Funding (STEAP); 5310 Van

Grant, Department of Housing (DOH); Connecticut Housing Finance

Authority (CHFA0 for a combined award of $2.8 million much needed

improvements and upgrades at the Kings Corner Manor Senior Housing

Facility which would include the replacement of windows, outside doors

and installing storm doors with energy star rated products; as well as the

installation of new split heat pump systems for improved and efficient

heating and air conditioning in each unit, the tubs would be removed and

replaced with roll-in showers and grab bars, the toilets, sinks and flooring

materials would also be replaced removing architectural barriers. Mayor

Allyn also note that the Town received CT Trails Grant of $112,000 and

the Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program (LoTClP) Grant

in the amount of $2.8 million to construct a Multi-Model Pathway from

Ledyard Center to Ledyard High School, as well as grants for emergency

and services. He stated the Town Staff understands the value in seeking

these grants.

Mayor Allyn stated preliminary reports indicate that Ledyard’s PILOT

Funding in the amount of $931,157 would essentially remain flat with a

slight increase in the amount of $6,057 or 0.7% noting that the State’s 2021

Budget Implementer Bill increased Ledyard’s PILOT to 100% of the assessed

value for non-taxable government owned property (Mashantucket Pequot

Reservation Land), noting that this Bill was supposed to be in perpetuity. He

also reported that the Pequot-Mohegan Grant funding to Ledyard was

projected to be $1,391,000; however, he the Governors’ proposed budget

has not yet been passed House or Senate.

Mayor Allyn addressed education revenues noting the Education Grant

Funding was currently projected at $11,624,199 a slightly increase $131,683

or 1.1% that there continues to be issues regarding the methodology behind

state funding for Special Education (SPED). He stated that Ledyard needed

to continue to press for SPED funding so that funding would follow the

student. He stated that if funding for special needs students followed them

when moving from one school district to another that it would help mitigate

mid-budget expenses that have a substantial impact on smaller towns annual

budgets.

Proposed Budget General Government Budget Overview:

Mayor Allyn stated the General Government Fiscal Year 2023/2024

Expenses were made of the following:

ü Salary & Wages 12.%

ü Employee Benefits 14.5%

ü Operating Expenses 72.6%

Mayor Allyn noted the General Government continues tight management of

their expenses, seeking reductions where possible, noting that regionalizing

efforts with the Bulling Official and Tax Assessor (to Preston) have been

positive and that they continue to work toward Department consolidations;

while they also recognize that few new opportunities exist for continued

consolidations and savings, short of a County Form of Government. He

stated as part of this effort that his Office continues to review the final report

from the Budget Transformation Committee that was issued on October 3,

2016. He noted to date twenty of the items in the Report have been

addressed, and of those, sixteen have been implemented by the Town. He

stated their work to restructure, which included a proposal to combine the

Parks and Recreation with the Senior Center, would continue to provide

efficiency, increase programming, and would allow the funding received

from the conveyance tax, in accordance with Ordinance #200-009 “An

Ordinance Proving for the Transfer of Certain Revenues from Real Estate

Conveyance Tax to Special Town of Ledyard Funds”: and Ordinance

#200-012 “An Ordnance Creating a Municipal Parks and Recreation

Capital and Non-Recurring Expose Fund for the Town of Ledyard” to be

used to make improvements and maintain the Senior Citizens Center

Facility.

· Reserve Funds - Mayor Allyn stated the proposed budget included

tax-levied cash set-asides for some facilities maintenance and for the

acquisition of new fire apparatus and other large-scale purchases,

meaning that some maintenance and future acquisitions of high value

equipment would require some level of borrowing. He stated that he

began implementing this

type of funding model in the current fiscal year (fy 20/21). He stated the

modification was to provide for the many competing demands for the

town’s limited municipal resources, including annual road restorations,

equipment, vehicles, facility needs, etc.

· Mill Rate Stabilization Fund current balance: $3,430,279l; with

$1,000,000 transfer-in scheduled to balance the Fiscal Year 2022/2023

Budget, to date this transfer-in has not yet occurred. The idea of the Mill

Rate Stabilization Fund was to smooth out or keep the mill rate

somewhat stable, noting that State Revenues to Municipalities can be

unpredictable. The proposed Fiscal Year 2023/2024 calls for a

$1,000,0000 transfer-in from the Mill Rate Stabilization Fund.

· Debt Service - Mayor Allyn stated in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2023/2024

the Debt Service at $350,810 saw a decrease in the amount of $4,460,981

from the current year representing 3.31mils in taxation. The percentage of

current debt to the tax levy was now at 9.8%. Debt Service has been

projected to remain constant for a number of years as school roofs and town

hall complex roofs have been included in the town’s bond obligations.

· Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Budget increases include:

Property Insurance increase $517,196 an increase of $35,000 or 7.3%

Defined Contribution Plan $378,000 an increase of $63,000 or 20%

(Acct. 10110253-53210).

The Defined Contribution Plan was gaining steam with employee

enrollment to plan and save for retirement. The increase represented

an increase in the employer funding match, and also takes into

consideration negotiated contracts that require employee participation

at some minimum level.

The Defined Benefit Plan closed to new enrollees in 2013. In

reviewing the Town's Retirement Plan, Ledyard's previous 100.4%

funded rate in Fiscal Year 2022/2023 has decreased as the result of

weak market conditions. Despite this decline, Ledyard still had nearly

a 90% funded rate, and was considered one of the ten best in the State

of Connecticut. This was positive news for our retirees as well as our

taxpayers. Mayor Allyn noted for perspective, the State of

Connecticut has $59 Billion of unfunded pension and retiree

healthcare obligations outstanding, while Ledyard has $4.1Millilon

outstanding. Currently there were twenty employees remaining in

Ledyard’s Defined Benefit Plan.

Ø Pension Obligations was $6.4 million on June 30, 2022 an increase of $1.1

million over the

previous year.

Ø Healthcare General Government $1,136,160 an increase $84,160 or 8%.

Ø Healthcare Board of Education $5,325,000 an increase of $21,000 or

0.4%.

Mayor Allyn explained that the actual healthcare premiums for Fiscal

Yar 2023/2024 would not be fixed until April. He noted that the town’s

healthcare consultant recommended factoring an 8% premium cost

increase (down from the initial proposed 12-13% increase).

Ø Finance Department - increase of $40,840 or 9% due to inflationary

costs. The Finance Department Budget included the expense lines for

fuels and electric costs.

Ø Assessor Department - increase of $35,571 or 25.9% for wages and

contract maintenance leases.

Ø Dispatch - increase of $57,420 or 12% this was wage driven.

Ø Animal Control - increase of $20,917 or 26.5%

Ø Senior Center - increase of $9,554 or 9.8%

Ø Public Works Road Upkeep - increase of $14,000 or 9.3%

Ø Library - increase of $54,563 or 10.1%

Ø Capital Improvement Plan saw the highest level of funding ever last

year, includes an increase of $373,353 or 41.81% for Fiscal Year

2023/2024.

Mayor Allyn provided an overview of the Capital Improvement Plan

stating that it included Department’s requests totaling $30,069,557.

He noted that he reduced the Department’s CIP request by

$17,194,134 for a proposed CIP in the amount of $12,875,423 which

would require a tax levy of $1,631,235; an increase of $373,353 or

41.81% over the current year’s budget. He provided an overview of

the Capital Improvement Plan Funding Sources as follows:

Taxes

(13%)

(78%)

(0%)

$1,631,235

Grants

$10,056,438

Transfer in from Other Funds

Operating

45,000

(1%)

$ 174,900

$ 169,250

Conveyance

(1%)

Bonding

(3%)

(0%)

(3%)

$ 380,000

$ 45,000

Transfer in from Other Fund

$ 369,500

TOTAL

$12,871,323

Mayor Allyn noted the CIP included the following:

· Critical Needs

o Planned technology replacements

o Roads Improvements/Restoration

o Vehicles and equipment and life safety equipment.

ü Replacement of two Police Cruisers

ü Auto External Defibrillators

· Road Restoration - The Town Road Surface Rating (RSR) issued by

Consultant, BETA Engineering, sees that Ledyard’s RSR has remained

consistent at 83.98 (on a 100-point scale). Per the RSR Plan, Ledyard

was needed to invest $1 million annually to road restoration to maintain

their 83 RSR. Mayor Allyn explained in prior years this request has been

reduced by as much as $365,000 annually and the effect was evident.

This budget funds Road Restoration at $982,000 with $300,562.00

coming from local tax dollars. He stated they have determined that

maintaining a RSR level of 83.0, was reasonable and feasible for the

town.

· Police Cruiser Replacement - The plan also recommended the

replacement of two police cruisers. Mayor Allyn explained that some

time ago the town undertook an initiative that keep the cruisers on the

road with milage up-to and including 160,000 (previously disposed of

cruisers at or near 100,000 miles). Currently the Department had one

cruiser nearing

140,000 miles and two others approaching 100,000 miles. Two police

cruisers would be sold online using the GovDeals auction vendor. The

total cost to acquire and outfit each new cruiser was approximately

$52,000.

· Board of Education Capital Improvement Projects came in at $8,446,000

include:

o Two Outdoor Classrooms at the Elementary Schools

o Ledyard High School Science Lab Upgrades

o Continued Ledyard High School Upgrades to Classrooms and Bathrooms

o Replacement Truck

o Technology Updates

o Other larger projects were included in the request, but were contingent

upon securing grant funding.

· Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Budget Savings include:

Ø Mayor's Office - a decrease $51,107 or -22.4%.

Ø Human resources Staff Department - a decrease of $30,405 or -24.85%.

Ø Public Health Nursing - a decrease of $57,041 or -6.8%

Ø School Nursing - a decrease of $18,270 or -5.2%

Mayor Allyn stated the proposed Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Budget assumes a

35.04 mil rate which was a 1.22 mil increase over the current year. He stated the

Budget, as proposed, required the use of multiple financial tools to assist in

offsetting increased costs, including the Mill Rate Stabilization Fund

($1,000,000). He went on to note that he has not proposed any transfer-in

from the Health Care Reserve Account, which currently stands at

$253,758.06. He explained that the town was currently pricing out

alternatives to the CT Partnership Plan as increases in the past several years

have been dramatic. He stated considering this potential move, that he was

looking to preserve the remaining funds in the Healthcare Reserve Account

until a path forward on the healthcare costs has been finalized. He went on to

state that there were still some changes that could occur in the budget to provide

additional savings for the town; however, he explained that he was not prepared

to make those changes at the time was budget was due on March 6, 2023.

Therefore, he stated that there was more work that the Finance Committee could

do to bring the mil increase down to a 0.8 mil increase; for the proposed Fiscal

Year 2023/2024

Mayor Allyn concluded his presentation by stating that although the State

appears to again have a substantial surplus, in excess of $3 Billion, that

preliminary reports indicate that State Funding to Ledyard would remain

generally flat, which in-effect was a reduction given the inflationary

environment. He commented that level funding does not help municipalities

bear the brunt of inflationary costs impacting the operational costs (+20%

increase in heating fuel; +40% increase in electricity; increases in gasoline)

needed to provide services to its residents. He stated that he would continue

to follow they many pieces of the proposed legislation and how it might

impact our town positively or negatively. He noted one example of the

proposed Bills was the Early Voting. He stated there were still many

unanswered questions such as: What votes qualify for Early Voting?; How

many polling locations are needed in Early Voting?; What hours are

required?; How many days in advance do you need to provide Early Voting?.

Mayor Allyn stated there were still many questions noting that this was only

one piece of the legislation.

Mayor Allyn deferred to Town Staff to review their budget proposals.

12:25 p.m.Mayor’ Executive Assistant Kristen Chapman

Department 10110201- Mayor’s Office

Mayor proposed $177,200 a decrease of $51,107 or -22.47% from

the approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.

Department 1011023 - Administrative Support

Mayor proposed $136,000 an increase of $43,327 or 45.7% from

the approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget. This was due to

changing the custodial services from a town employee to a

contracted service, which was now residing in this budget.

Department 10110205 - Legal Services (Town Attorney)

Mayor proposed $55, an increase of $5,000 or 10% over the Fiscal

Year 2022/202e budget.

Department 10110209 - Property Insurance (Liability

Insurance) -

Mayor proposed $ 517,196 an increase of $35,333 or 7.3% over

the approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.

10110211 Health District - Mayor proposed $116,400 a decrease

of $638 or -0.5% from the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.

10110207 Probate - Mayor proposed $10,575 no change from

Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.

12:30 p.m.Finance Department - Finance Director Matthew Bonin

Department 1011201 - Finance Office - Finance Director

Matthew Bonin

Mayor proposed $492,946 an increase of $40,840 or 9% over the

approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.

Department 10112111 - Assessors Office - Finance Director Matthew

Bonin

Mayor proposed $173019 an increase of $35,571 or 25.9% over

the approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.

Department 101112131 - Tax Collector - Finance Director Matthew Bonin

Mayor proposed $144,648 an increase of $11,873 or 8.9% over

the approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.

12:45 p.m.10110251 Human Resources - Administrator of Human Resources Don Steinh

Mayor proposed $91950 a decrease of $30,405 or -24.8% from the

approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.

Employee Expenses Department 10110253 - Administrator of

Human Resources

Don Steinhoff

Mayor proposed $10,554,428 an increase of $37,181 or 0.4% over

the approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.

Mr. Steinhoff explained this budget included the following expenses:

Healthcare for both the General Government and Board of Education,

Pre-Employee Testing, Retirement, Defined Contribution Payments,

Social

Security,

Unemployment

Compensation,

Workers

Compensation for General Government and Board of Education, and

other Insurance Expenses.

Mr. Steinhoff addressed the combined total increase of $1,519,093 in

the Healthcare Premium costs. The following Accounts were noted:

· Account #10110253-52000 (General Government Healthcare)

$1,136,160 saw an increase of $84,160 or 8% and

· Account 10110253-52100 (BOE Healthcare) $5,925,000 saw an

increase of $17,000 or 0.4% ($5,325,000 for active employees and

$600,000 for retirees)

Mr. Steinhoff explained because the healthcare premium would not

be set until mid to late April the proposed budget has planned for an

8% increase as recommended by the town’s healthcare consultant. He

went on to explain that he has been talking with an Insurance Group

who was handling a consortium of towns who previously left the State’s

2.0 Partnership Healthcare Plan because of the increased costs to the

State’s Plan. He stated if the Healthcare Consortium Plan could provide

a comparable insurance plan to what Ledyard currently, had that the

town may be able to join their Healthcare Consortium which would be

about a 4% - 5% increase in healthcare costs for the town. However, he

stated he has since learned that the State of Connecticut revised their

estimated increase for the Partnership 2.0 Healthcare Plan to 7.5% for

next fiscal year. He stated that he would continue to work to find the

best Healthcare option for the town.

· Defined Contribution Plan $378,000 an increase of $63,000 or 20%

(Account #10110253-53210). Mr. Steinhoff stated this represented

the employer funding match. He stated with the closing of the

Defined Benefit Plan in 2013 that newly negotiated contracts require

employee participation at some minimum level in the Defined

Contribution Plan as employees plan and save for retirement.

Therefore, he stated that they would continue to see the Town’s

contribution increase going forward, noting that some employees

were contributing up to 8% of their salary.

1:00 p.m. Planning & Zoning -- Planning & Zoning Commission Land Use Director Juliet

Hodge and Planning & Zoning Commission Tony Capon

Land Use 10114301 (Includes: Land Use Director, Building Department,

Zoning Department)

Mayor proposed $330,014 an increase of $11,454 or 3.6% over

the approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Budget

Land Use Commissions and Committees:

Account Number

Mayor Proposed

Change from FY 22/2

10114303 53400 Planning Pro Serv $2,000

No Change

10114303 56100 Planning Oper

$1,000

10114305 51600 EDC Oper. $1,000

10114305 EDC Dues & Fees $7,461

No Change

Increase of $1,611or 27.5%

10114501 IWWC

10114507 ZBA

$500

Increase of $250 or 100%

$500

No Change

Ø Other Land Use Commissions:

Account Number

22/23

10110107 Cemetery Cmt

Mayor Proposed

$2,000 No Change

Change from FY

10110213 Conservation Com

10110213 57300 Conservation Equ $1,150

10110213-58789 Conservation Misc.$ 975

$1,150

No Change

1:30 p.m. Public Works/Town Engineer Steve Masalin

Highway Department 10140103 -

Mayor proposed $1,217,954 an increase of $35,223 or 3% over the

approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.

Vehicle Maintenance Department 10140105 -

Mayor proposed $283,185 an increase of $2,996 or 1.1% over the

approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.

Public Works Director Department -Administration 10140101 -

Mayor proposed $203251 an increase of $4,381 or 2.2% over the

Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.

Road Upkeep Department 10140107

Mayor proposed $164,800 an increase of $14,000 or 9.3% over the

approved Fiscal Year 2022/20213budget.

Property Maintenance of Town Buildings Department 10140111

Mayor proposed $86,050 an increase of $550 or 0.6% over the

approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.

Sanitation Department 320 -

Mayor proposed $1,130500 an increase of $31,697 or 2.9% over the

approved Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget.

2:00 p.m. Board of Education Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) $8,446,000

Superintendent of Schools Jason Hartling provided an overview

of the Board of Education’s Capital Improvement Plan noting the

following:

· Ledyard High School Improvements:

o High School Heating System Replacement: $3,000,000

o High School Air Conditioning

o High School Auditorium Air Conditioning $ 400,000

o High School Window Replacements $1,600,000

$2,600,000

Mr. Hartling explained that the Board of Education had applied for

a Federal Grant to obtain funding for the major High School

Capital Improvement Projects listed above.

However, he stated the Federal Grant Program received 70% more

applications than the amount of funding that was available.

Therefore, he stated Ledyard’s Grant Application was not

approved. He stated the cost estimates included in the proposed

Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) were the

numbers they used in the Federal Grant Application. He stated

these projects were included in the CIP as a placeholder stating

that the Board of Education did not expect the town to fund these

expenses and that they would need to be pushed out to later years.

Mr. Hartling went on to state that the Board of Education planned

to use funding from their Capital Non-Recurring Account (CNR)

and some additional tax levy, as well as other Grant Funding

opportunities to continue with more routine capital improvements

such as:

Classroom upgrades/improvements

Replacement Truck

Mr. Hartling stated that ClearGov has been a challenge to use noting

that the background information that was provided regarding which

projects were included as placeholders, etc. did not fully print out.

Councilor Saums thanked Superintendent Hartling and Board of

Education Director of Facilities and Grounds Wayne Donaldson for

attending today’s meeting.

2:15 p.m. Budget Work

During the work sessions the Finance Committee asked questions

about line items in each category on the agenda. The Committee also

explained to each Department that should there be any changes in

State Revenues proposed by the Governor’s Budget, that they may

want to meet again with the Finance Committee to offer alternatives,

suggestions and recommendations as the Finance Committee works

to put forwarded a recommended Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Budget.

The Finance Committee also noted during their review of the

information provided by the Departments today that they were

pleased to see that Department Heads worked to off-set General

Government contractual increases with reductions in other expenses

and to continue find efficiencies year after year.

ADJOURNMENT

The Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Budget Work Session adjourned at 2:27 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

William D. Saums

Committee Chairman

Finance Committee

DISCLAIMER: Although we try to be timely and accurate these are not official records of the

Town.