Category: Non-Profit – Government

The Litchfield Budget Committee met tonight (1/7/21) and all members were in attendance.

Mr. Cutter shared correspondence which included updated school district budgets, library correspondence, weekly town budget reports, draft minutes, draft budget hearing PowerPoint, and budget hearing planning session agenda and format.

December 10^th and 17^th meetings were approved by the committee.   

Reports

– Mrs. Varick from the town library asked for an additional $7,905 to the town library budget, specifically for costs associated with heating oil and health benefits, bring the total library budget to $305,453.  The committee voted to add the additional funds back to the budget. 

-Request from Zoning board to restore $700 to the budget.  There was no motion to add the dollars.

-Town Bottom Line Voting – $7,203,793.  The committee voted to approve the bottom line budget as presented.

-Town Warrant Article Voting:
            -Article #3 – Police Contract – recommended 8-1-0
            -Article #4 – Town Clerk – not recommended 4-5-0
            -Article #5 – Health Services – recommended 8-1-0
            -Article #6 – Road Improvements – recommended 8-1-0
            -Article #7 – Plow Truck Purchase – recommended 7-2-0
            -Article #8 – Property Revaluation – recommended 8-1-0
            -Article #9 – Health and Dental Care – not recommended 4-5-0
            -Article #10 – Fire Station Bond – recommended 9-0-0

-School Bottom Line Voting – $23,715,016.  The committee voted to approve the bottom line budget as presented.  

-School Warrant Article Voting:
            -Article #1 – School Budget – recommended 8-1-0
            -Article #2 – Tech Integrator – not recommended 4-5-0
            -Article #3 – Tech Integrator – not recommended 4-5-0
            -Article #4 – Capital Improvement – recommended 7-2-0

-Budget Hearing Preparation – Chairman Cutter explained the process for January 14^th Budget Hearing, which will be fully remote. 

Member Input / New Business:

– Mr. Taylor asked for the school to provide an update on how much of last year’s budget was returned to the town and how much was encumbered. 

-Dr. Jette spoke about warrant articles 2 and 3 and the school district and board process in having the Tech Integrator positions brought forward via warrant articles. 

The next Budget Committee meeting is the Budget Hearing scheduled for January 14^th at 7pm.  This meeting will be virtual, and notices have been made available to the public via local media outlets and the town website. 

As a reminder, Budget Committee responses to posts on social media are not permitted.