Volume 23, Number 11
www.berlincitizen.com
Thursday, March 18, 2021
School board seeks 4.5% budget increase By Nadya Korytnikova The Citizen
The Board of Education recently released its 2021-22 budget report with a proposed 4.5 percent increase over the current fiscal year.
Local police chiefs react to recreational marijuana bill By Lauren Sellew Record-Journal staff
and groups gave testimony or submitted statements. The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association submitted a statement opposLocal police chiefs shared their thoughts, ing the bill, citing several law enforcement and concerns, with proposed legislation to issues. legalize recreational marijuana that was ”Our opposition to the bill revolves introduced by the governor recently. around the absence of a qualified road A bill introduced, SB 888, would allow for side testing of a motorist suspect to be unthe recreational use of marijuana for those der the influence of cannabinoids,” the 21 years and older, with certain restricstatement reads. “While the presence of a tions. The bill was introduced by Governor police officer trained in Advanced RoadNed Lamont and was referred to the joint side Impairment Driving Enforcement committee on judiciary last month. A pub- (ARIDE) or the presence of a Drug Recoglic hearing about the bill was held on Feb. 26 and over 140 individuals, organizations
See Marijuana, A25
Equipment expenses are projected to increase $72,876, putting that number at $227,076. This repre-
The school district has an inventory of approximately 1,320 desktop and laptop computers, 38 percent of which are at least five years old. According to the BOE, the district will need to replace 500 units and 19 projectors. See Budget, A13
Businesses celebrate easing of restrictions By Nadya Korytnikova The Citizen
Gov. Ned Lamont recently announced his plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions and that is welcome news say local business owners who’ve been waiting on the move. The new rules allow restaurants, retailers, libraries, gyms, houses of worship, museums, and other entities to return to full capacity by March 19. See Restrictions, A24
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A bill introduced by Gov. Ned Lamont would allow for the recreational use of marijuana for those 21 years and older, with certain restrictions. AP Photo/Brennan Linsley
The proposed $48,534,130 budget includes salary increases of $1,149,453, an increase of $662,762 in employee benefits, and an additional $39,199 in transportation costs.
sents a 47.3 percent increase over the 2020-21 equipment budget and includes the purchase and renovation of several technology units as well as hardware and software to support student learning and management operations.