Volume 27, Number 17
Friday, April 23, 2021
www.towntimes.com
Finance board proposes budget increase, but lowers mill rate
A REAL HOT SHOT
By Nadya Korytnikova Town Times
The Durham Board of Finance recently presented its fiscal year 2021-22 preliminary budget that, if approved, would reduce the mill rate for the fourth year in a row.
Michael Quinn wears several hats any given day: attorney, state representative, fire photographer. “He can pick up stuff in pictures that we don’t typically get to see,” Meriden Fire Chief Ken Morgan said. See story on Page 10. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
National Drug Take Back Day
The town’s preliminary net budget for FY 2021-22 is estimated at $5.77 million, which represents a 3.43 percent increase over the current fiscal year. The proposed mill rate for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, would drop to 35.63, a reduction of 0.15 mills. The overall proposed mill rate is set due to a reduction in state and local revenue, increases in profes-
information on the prescription label of your empty pill bottle or empty medication packaging to make it unreadable, then dispose of the container. By taking these medication disposal steps you are helping unused and expired medication from getting to the hands of people they were not prescribed to.
The town’s total expenditures are predicted to go up by 4.09 percent, or $289,650, while local and state revenue will decrease by 9.13 percent, or $78,118. As part of its long-term capital plan, the Board of Finance has appropriated $574,251 in reserve funds, an 11.10 percent increase compared to the current year. Major contributors to the budget include building maintenance, fire apparatus, public works vehicle and equipment replacement, as well as major culvert repairs. Nevertheless, the board will be able to decrease next year’s debt burden by 1.9 percent, from $147,105 to $144,289, according to Donahue. See Budget, A24
INSIDE TODAY’S EDITION
GUIDE COMMUN202IT0 Y
The 2021 Town Times Community Guide Information for Durham, Middlefield & Rockfall
239904
The DEA National Drug Take Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 Back Day is Saturday, April p.m., prescription drugs can 24. be disposed of at the Middlefield Resident Troopers This effort addresses a cruOffice, 405 Main St., or at the cial public safety and public Durham Resident Troopers health issue. According to Office, 24 Townhouse Road. the 2019 National Survey on A no-contact drop-off proceDrug Use and Health, 9.7 dure will be followed. Masks million people misused pre- are required. scription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused pre- If you can't attend an April scription stimulants and 5.9 24 take-back, prescription million people misused pre- drugs can be disposed of safely at home. scription tranquilizers or sedatives. The survey also Unused and expired medishowed that a majority of cations should be mixed misused prescription drugs with an unpalatable subwere obtained from family stance such as dirt, cat litter and friends, often from the or used coffee grounds. home medicine cabinet. Place the mixture into a The DEA’s Take Back Day container such as a sealed events provide an opportuplastic bag and throw the nity for Americans to precontainer away with your household trash. Remember vent drug addiction and to scratch out all personal overdose deaths.
BOF Chairman Bob Donahue, who presented the municipal budget via Zoom on April 12, noted that 2020 was a year “quite unlike any other that has ever been seen for over 100 years.”
sional and general expenses, and the town’s “continued commitment” to longterm capital planning, according to Donahue.