Volume 21, Number 5
www.berlincitizen.com
Thursday, March 23, 2017
$85.3M budget, $5M in reductions proposed ings with departments. By Ashley Kus Citizen staff
A $85 million-plus proposed budget was sent to the Town Council Thursday night, March 16 after several meet-
percent increase in taxes, a .86 mill rate increase. A “This is not a final number by house valued at $250,000, for any means,” said Mayor Mark example, would have a $150 Kaczynski, a budget commit- increase in taxes. tee member. “There’s more discussion to take place.” The budget does not account for Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s The proposed budget of proposed town contribution $85,362,771 reflects a 2.79 to the teacher’s retirement
fund. Kaczynski said he did not yet want to add in Malloy’s proposal.
$5.7 million in the first year.
“We shouldn’t expect things to be as bad as presented in Under Malloy’s two-year the governor’s budget, but plan, Berlin would be lookwe should expect something ing at a loss of nearly $5 mil- less than we had this year,” lion in state aid. The proposal said Kevin Delaney, finance would reduce state aid to Berlin from $8.5 million to See Budget, A2
Relay for Life volunteers gear up for May event
FRIENDS TO THE FOUR-LEGGED Daisy Troop 66526 has scheduled an animal rescue service project through April 1. The scouts are collecting items for the Berlin and New Britain animal shelters and a wildlife rehab.
By Ashley Kus Citizen staff
The shelters are in need of old towels, leashes, cat or dog food, paper towels, dog or cat beds, small animal toys, animal cages, water bottles, metal feeding dishes, Q-tips, and treats. Collection boxes are located at Compassionate Care Veterinary, Ferndale Market Fresh, Hair & The Hound Grooming, Labieniecs, and Petco in Newington.
Despite the impending winter storm, Relay for Life volunteers were in a “sunny” state of mind Monday night, March 13 as they gathered for the first meeting of team captains.
Donations are also being collected for a dog named Scarlet, who is in need of an expensive surgery. Scarlet needs a quiet home with no other dogs and no small children to help her rehabilitate. Monetary donations may be sent to New Britain Pound Pals LLC, 10 Chestnut St., New Britain, CT 06052 (reference Scarlet.)
She said the recent cold weather has made people look forward to the Saturday, May 20 event even more. More than 10 teams have registered so far, including members of Berlin High
“It’s been a rough winter,” said Amber Dunphy, Relay for Life community manager.
See Relay, A2
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Scouts, front row, from left: Remi Parafati, Mia Coletti, Harper Boughton and Mika Sacciente. Back row: Nadia Brochu, Adeline Berube, Madison Bacon, Olivia LaPosta and Kara Yantz.