Thursday, May 3, 2018
www.berlincitizen.com
Volume 22, Number 11
Residents reject town, school budgets Garden By Ashley Kus The Citizen
Voters shot down a $45.6-million general government budget and a $43.9million school budget Tuesday, April 24 stating both were “too high.” “We’re going to roll up our sleeves and start all over again,” said Sam Lomaglio, the Republican Board of Finance chairman. “We’ve heard the voters.”
According to the registrars of voters, residents voted “no” overwhelmingly in all five districts for the general government budget, with a tally of 1,625 to 704. All five districts also voted against the school budget, 1,466 to 847. On the advisory questions, 1,477 people voted the general government budget “too high,” compared to 245 voting “too low.” For the school bud-
get question, 1,390 people voted “too high” and 150 voted “too low.” “I think the Board of Finance and the chairman got the message. They’ll rework it and it’ll come back to us,” said Republican Mayor Mark Kaczynski. Kaczynski and members of the Town Council previously proposed a plan to See Budgets, A15
Superintendent disappointed by vote
Ellison confirmed Monday, April 23 the business is permanently closing. The garden center sold garden supplies, home decor and gifts for more than five years, as well as hosting events and workshops.
“I’m disappointed,” said Brian Benigni, superintendent of Berlin schools. “I thought it was a responsible budget.”
Reductions included two teachers at
Kensington Garden Center, 398 Chamberlain Highway, is closing its doors and is currently on the market.
The family-owned and operated center and attached gift shop usually closes for the winter and opens back up for summer.
After voters shot down a $45.6 million general government budget and a $43.9 million school budget Tuesday, April 24 stating both were “too high,” the superintendent of schools is expressing his concern with the likely cuts to follow.
“I thought we made drastic cuts already,” Benigni said Thursday, April 26.
By Ashley Kus The Citizen
“It’s closing and up for sale,” said Alan Ellison, owner.
By Ashley Kus The Citizen
This was the first year the budget was split with the town and school budgets voted on separately. The Board of Finance, also new, created the budget in collaboration with Benigni and the school board as well as town departments.
center to close
The Berlin Board of Education adopted the Superintendent's proposed budget, Monday, Feb. 12. Ashley Kus, The Citizen
the high school and one teacher at the elementary school, as well as the elimination of an elementary school assistant principal. At the end of the budget process, before the budget was sent to a vote, members of the Board of Education
were able to find nearly $1 million in employee health insurance savings to bring the school budget from a 4.3 percent increase over last year to 1.99 percent. See School, A15
In the winter of 2015 into 2016, the center was served a cease and desist order by town zoning enforcement for running a gift shop at the site. The property is zoned for residential use, R-21. The garden center was allowed See Garden, A3
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