Bd. of Finance Recommendations 2012-13 Budget

The Board of Finance sent their recommendations for the 2012-13 budget to the Mayor this week. The recommendations were essentially a punt since they did not change the Mayor's budget by much. Three accounts in the EHPD were changed and $4,000 was added to one Recreation account. They should have saved all the time they spent meeting and just rubber stamped the Mayor's recommendations earlier in the month.

The final appropriations and revenue call for a budget of $87M with a mill rate of 30.95 and a collection rate of 97.75%.

*update* It appears I still can't tell the difference between the appropriations spreadsheet and the revenue spreadsheet. The budget also calls for a $1.2M transfer TO the fund balance and not FROM the fund balance. My bad. Never blog before you have had your first cup of coffee. There is also a $500K increase for the Board of Education.

Bd. of Finance Budget Wkshp - 3/20/2012

I am posting the video from last night's budget workshop as they become available. The meeting was a recap of all the budget requests so the Board of Finance could come up with a recommendation for the Mayor. The video is in 4 parts.

The 4th part contains the discussion of the BOE budget. As it stands now the Board of Finance is recommending the BOE get a $500K increase which is paid for by the expected increase in the ECS funding under the Governor's proposal to the legislature.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4 (BOE budget)

Annual Report - 1938

Marilyn Vitale found this annual report for East Haven from 1938. I scanned it hope you find it as interesting as I did.

Bd. Finance - BOE Budget Wkshp. Highlight Reel 3/14/2012

I have reduced the original length of the budget workshop from 90 minutes to a video of a little over 15 minutes. The highlights of the meeting are this:

1. The BOE wants a $1M to $1.5M increase over this year
2. They have no idea where teh $657K is despite what the audit report says
3. Test scores are an abomination and they want more money
4. Every other department wants more money and the BoF has no idea how to balance the competing claims of the various departments

Left unsaid is how they are going to use the extra money, if they get it, to fix the test scores.

Bd. of Finance Budget Wkshp. Highlights 3/14/2012 from Edward Foley on Vimeo.

EH News 3/10/2012

Marilyn and I taped another edition of EH News last Saturday. Making another appearance are our mascots, Dog and Pony. Enjoy the show.

EH News 3/10/12 from Edward Foley on Vimeo.

Board of Finance Workshop *updated with video*

Here is the video from Wednesday night's meeting.

Part 1:

Board of Finance Workshop 3/14/2012 Part 1 from Edward Foley on Vimeo.

Part 2:

Board of Finance Workshop 3/14/2012 Part 2 from Edward Foley on Vimeo.

Tonight I videotaped the Board of Finance budget workshop where the Board of Education presented their request for the 2012-13 fiscal year. I will have the video available tomorrow sometime. While I was at the workshop I picked up a copy of the grand list comparison for the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years.

2012-13 Budget

I received a copy of the East Haven budget requests this morning. There are 2 files. One contains the appropriation numbers and one contains the revenue numbers.

The mill rate is recommended to be 30.95 mills with a collection rate of 97.75%. The $53.1 million in real estate taxes are essentially what they were in last year's budget. For some reason they have estimated an increase of $1.5 million in motor vehicle and personal property taxes from last year's budget. This brings an increase from $60.06 million to $61.22 million in the tax burden. I guess we aren't getting the 17% rollback that was promised in the last campaign.

On the appropriation side there is a huge 40% increase in the legal account. There is also 10% increases in the Employee Benefit and Administration & Management accounts.

Pictures from a Sunday morning

I went out this morning and took some pictures along the shore and in the center. A quiet, windy morning with very good light for photography. The beach is still closed but I hope it is open again by summer.

A ship waiting to go into the harbor. Notice the seagull in the foreground

Another shot from the shore. Lots of waves due to the wind and another gull

A shot from the parking lot of the Beachhead Restaurant overlooking the wetlands

Wetlands along Short Beach Road

The Town Green

The arch leading into the Old Cemetery

The dedication plaque on the arch

Ducks in the river near the Trolley Museum

The Trolley Museum

EH News 2/25/2012

Marilyn and I went into the ETV studio last weekend to tape the latest edition of EH News. SOme of the topics covered include the BOE financial mess, the PZC hearing on the "Heroes Village" project and some odd appointments to the School Building and Arts Commissions. Enjoy the show. We will be taping again next Saturday.