Volume 16, Issue 47
Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
“In like a lion” ... March, that is ...
Viccaro presents education budget with 2.88 percent increase By Stephanie Wilcox Town Times District 13 Superintendent Susan Viccaro introduced the 2010-2011 proposed education budget on Wednesday, March 3. This year’s projected increase of 2.88 percent, combined with last year’s increase of 0.58 percent, yields an average increase over the last two years of 1.73 percent, said Viccaro. For a net bottom line of $32,155,840, the budget contains no staff cuts aside from one retiring teacher at the elementary level who will be replaced by moving another current teacher into the slot. “Last year 6.8 positions were cut, and, based on that,
Photos submitted by Jaime Irizarry
Above, the lone tree on the Strickland Farm on Cherry Hill Road in Middlefield stands sentinel in the snow. Left and below, the Coginchaug River from the Miller Road Bridge shows the effects of lots of water.
Now we’re waiting for the “out like a lamb” part ...
Friday, March 5, 2010
we don’t want to cut this year,” said Viccaro. “Six point eight is a significant number.” Salaries and benefits are up by 3.56 and 11.20 percent, respectively, and capital expenditures are up by 231.69 percent. This line item is expected to stand out, as the Board of Education has received criticism in the past for lack of an annual capital plan. This year they have drawn up a five-year capital plan. The first year of the plan includes $376,575 for fire alarm replacement, oil tank replacement, classroom furniture and a new clock and PA system at Brewster. See Education, page 26
Brayshaw hands lower budget to finance board By Sue VanDerzee Town Times Just in the nick of time, 120 days before the end of the fiscal year on June 30, Middlefield First Selectman Jon Brayshaw and finance director Joe Geruch handed over a municipal budget proposal of $3,847,994 for fiscal 2010-11, 1.5 percent less than last year’s request of $3.9 million. While it’s way too soon to talk about tax impact, the figure Brayshaw gave informal-
In this issue ... Calendar ............................4 Devil’s Advocate.........11-18 Durham Briefs............22-23 Libraries..................20 & 22 Middlefield Briefs ......20-21 Puzzles ....................19 & 22 Sports ..........................28-31
ly was that if the school budget came in with a 2.5 percent increase for Middlefield (pretty close; see above), then a .83 mill rate increase would be needed to fund both proposed budgets. In his transmittal letter to the Board of Finance explaining the highlights of his budget proposal, Brayshaw noted that the flat grand list (list of value of taxable property in town) and undependable state funds must lead the town to be more “self-reliant.” The most obvious selfreliant piece of the proposed budget is a $100,000 income line from sale of town property, which includes former water company property next to Rover’s Lodge whose sale to adjoining property owners has been discussed for years, but may finally happen. Also See Brayshaw, page 21