Safety and Schools the Heart of Southington Budget Debate
- Peter Prohaska
- 4 minutes ago
- 4 min read
The April 6 meeting of the Southington Town Council was devoted to a public hearing. To begin, Board of Finance Chairman John Leary presented the Board’s recommended budget for fiscal year 26-27, one which all parties involved agree is a difficult one.
Overall, the Board is recommending a $196 million budget for fiscal year 26-27, with $162.7 million in taxes to fund it. This would require a mill rate of 23.75 (down from 32.80) and a tax increase of 5.9%. The impact of this increase, the largest in several years, has prompted a lengthy public debate on town priorities.
Leary began his detailed presentation by addressing national factors, such as the $1 trillion the federal government now spends each year on debt service, that impact the financial situation of Southington residents. Higher borrowing costs for individuals, businesses and municipalities leads to more debt service expense. At the family level, he warned, this could mean fewer dollars spent locally, which in turn would “soften” the economic situation in town.
At the state level, Leary highlighted Connecticut’s healthy reserve funds, but said that corporate tax revenues decreased last fiscal year by around $75 million, tax refunds increased by $50 million, and the state now faces a $6 million deficit – relatively small, yet something that adds uncertainty to town budgeting. Most concerning, according to Leary, are the state’s unfunded pension obligations, which are around $35 billion, and among the highest in the nation, relative to state revenues. He pointed out that the state is dependent on high-income taxpayers and capital markets to sustain its fiscal health.
“Conservative budgeting protects Southington from aid reductions or mid-year adjustments,” Leary argued.
Another key factor in this year’s budget process is the state-mandated revaluation process. Updating property values every five years makes for a more “fair” tax assessment process, Leary said, but this time came with an unexpected result: “The smaller homes were higher in demand, and the smallest homes increased more than commercial, industrial, and the larger homes, sometimes a lot more.” This has the effect of pushing more of the overall tax burden onto smaller property owners.
The biggest portion of Southington’s spending is on education. Leary addressed that aspect as well, detailing how the Board of Finance was able to reduce the Board of Education’s recommended budget from about $130 million to $126,799,132.
He also mentioned several areas for consideration that weren’t included in the budget submitted to the Council, including a line item for the “rainy day” fund and the future of the Barnes Museum, which had requested $50,000 for needed repairs.
Firefighting and Education Focus of Public Comment
The public comment section of the meeting began with a statement from Southington Fire Chief Scott Lee, who was critical of the decision not to fund three firefighting positions, while accepting some of the Board of Finance’s other reductions.
Lee cited a consultant’s $80,000 strategic plan that called for increased staffing in town and compliance with consensus safety standards. “Choosing not to fund these positions means we disregard the data we paid for, we accept operating below recommended levels,” said Lee. “Demand is outpacing our staffing.”
Lee’s arguments about safety and staffing were echoed by several other people who spoke during the meeting, including Bristol Fire Chief Rick Hart, a Plantsville resident, who reported that Bristol Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu is “frustrated” and “tired of subsidizing” Southington’s fire department through sending mutual aid. Bristol and other surrounding communities are “rewarding your bad behavior by allowing you to be negligent,” Hart said. Hart also accused Town Manager Alex Ricciardone of “lying” in a conversation with Chief Lee by saying that the three firefighters would be funded.
Longtime fire volunteer and proponent of reform Al Urso spoke in favor of re-evaluating the overall shift structure of Southington’s fire department, and pointing out that Southington Fire Department also regularly provides mutual aid to towns like Bristol.
Others came forward to speak on behalf of the schools, arguing that strong schools attract people to live and raise families in Southington.
“You cannot claim fiscal responsibility while undermining the very system that drives long-term economic stability,” said Shawn Grindle.
Board of Education Chair Zaya Oshana also addressed the Council, emphasizing the bi-partisan nature of the budget his group approved and the overall success of Southington schools. “It’s up to us to educate our community,” regardless of whether people have children in the system or not, he said.
Taking the position that more cuts to the school budget are needed was Ann Marie Conaty. She pointed out that low levels of funding for Town services such as public works has meant delays in needed road repairs and ageing equipment. Reducing the Animal Control office by one person would also put a severe strain on public safety, she added, since other officers are not specially trained to deal with animals.
The Town Council did not take action on the budget, and the public hearing is still open. Town Council Chair Paul Chaplinsky said the first meeting in May will likely see a vote on the budget, at which point state funding levels may be clearer.
Absent from the Council at Monday night's meeting were its three Democratic members, Kristen Guida, Chris Palmieri, and David Zoni. According to Palmieri, all three were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts; Palmieri called on Chaplinsky to coordinate with the minority caucus in the future before adding unschedule Council meetings.
