Around 30 residents showed up for Monday night’s public hearing in the Old Lyme Town Hall Meeting Room of the Town’s proposed budget of $36,355,031 for the 2017-18 fiscal year. The proposed budget presented by Old Lyme Board of Finance Chairman Andy Russell, which includes $26.5 million for Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools, represents a 3.26 percent increase over the 2016-17 approved budget.
The Towns of Lyme and Old Lyme divide the LOL Schools’ budget of $33,634, 371 between them based on percentages representing the respective number of students that each town has attending LOL Schools. The total LOL Schools budget for both towns reflects a 0.49 percent increase over the current year, but when translated exclusively to the Old Lyme budget, the sum represents a 3.65 percent increase over the current year’s figure.
Old Lyme’s general government and capital budgets, which make up the balance of the Town budget (excluding the school budget), total $9,819,829 representing a 1.84 percent increase over the current year. This number comprises $8,774,129 for general government and $1,045,700 for capital spending.
Russell summarized key increases and decreases in the the two sections of the budget, noting that regarding grants to non-profits , “The only one to receive an an increase is the Old Lyme Library.” He commented on the subject of Debt Service that “The only debt that the Town has relates to the Town Hall,” and that the period remaining on the debt is seven years.
The two largest single items in General Government capital expenditures are replacement of the Cross Lane Playground equipment ($150,000) and renovations to the bathrooms at Hains Park (also $150,000.)
The former expense was the reason that many in the audience attended the meeting. Stacy Winchell, Lyme-Old Lyme Junior Women’s Club President, which has been working to raise money for the playground, commented in an email after the meeting, “As we have been working diligently for three years in bringing a safe and all-accessible playground to Cross Lane, we wanted to represent to the public that we continue to support and contribute to the return of a playground at Cross Lane.”
Renovations to the Hains Park bathrooms were originally included in the boathouse plans but now needed additional funding.
Another project which received increased funding ($10,000) was a feasibility study to determine the viability of a sidewalk from Town Woods Park to Rte. 1/Boston Post Rd.
Russell said the board of finance was proposing to take, “$800,000 out of surplus to soften the blow to taxpayers,” but adding, “$600,000 was taken out of surplus for each of the last two years … but not needed last year.” Adding, “We probably won’t need it this year,” he noted that the mill rate for 2017-18 is scheduled to increase from 21.2 to 21.75 mills, an increase of 2.58 percent.
Russell cited three examples of how the mill rate will impact property owners. The first was for a house appraised at $347,200 and assessed at $243,000. This homeowner paid $5,152 in property taxes in 2016-17, but will pay $5,285 under the proposed mill rate next year.
His second example related to a house appraised at $540,200 and assessed at $378,100. This homeowner paid $8,016 in property taxes in 2016-17, but would pay $8,224 next year under the proposed budget.
Russell’s consistent message throughout the presentation was that the board always pursues a course that errs on the conservative side. As a result, he explained, the town enjoys the highest credit rating possible. Additionally, he noted that the board uses a predicted collection rate on taxes of 98.25 percent whereas the rate is, in fact, typically over 99 percent.
When public comment opened, one resident asked if the cameras being installed in police cars would be transferable between vehicles and Russell confirmed they would.
Former Old Lyme First Selectman Timothy Griswold, who is now town treasurer, stated, “The Hains Park bathhouse is a controversial issue.” He agreed the bathrooms “need to be fixed,” but said, “The question should have gone to a Town Meeting … to be aired fully.” Griswold suggested it was now, “… lost in the budget.”
Russell responded that the question had been much discussed by the board and in the end, members had decided that since, “The Town had approved bathrooms and the boathouse,” the board should now add the necessary funds for the bathrooms into the budget. David Kelsey commented from the floor that this new sum to fund the bathrooms is now, “… buried in the budget.” Judith Read also questioned the boathouse project funding asking whether there was a surplus in hand on the boathouse project and if monies for the bathrooms were originally included in the boathouse project.
After the close of public comment, Russell said the proposed budget will now go forward for approval by residents at a town meeting to be held May 15.
Prior to that, Lyme and Old Lyme residents will vote separately in a referendum on the Lyme-Old Lyme Schools $33.6 million budget to be held May 2. Voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in both towns and the results from each town are combined to determine if the budget has passed. Voting in Old Lyme will be held in the Cross Lane Firehouse.
The Boathouse project is a nice addition to support the High School & Summer rowing programs.
However, its principal adult beneficiaries are adults from surrounding towns who are not contributing to its cost.