Information is taken from the minutes of the meeting, which are available in its entirety at:
A Special Meeting of the Town Council took place on May 9th, assembled to vote on the Town budget. Council Chair Carl Glad presided over the meeting; in attendance were council members Bill O’Connor, Christopher Green, Alvin O’Neal, Renee Gibson, Anthony Afriyie, Kerry Whitham, Kaitlin Shake, Alan Llewelyn, and Paul Aurelia. Others in attendance were Mayor Hoydick, Chief Administrative Officer Tymniac, Town Attorney Hodgson and Assistant Town Attorney Florek.
Mayor Hoydick had prepared and submitted the annual operating budget, and as recorded in the minutes of the meeting: the sum of $ 260,014,370 is hereby appropriated for the current expenses, permanent improvements, and other lawful charges for each department and each division thereof of the Town of Stratford for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025, all in accordance with the provisions of the budget attached hereto and made a part hereof.
Here, from the minutes, are increases and decreases in expenditures:
Mr. Llewelyn moved, seconded by Mr. O’Connor, to amend the item as indicated below with no increase to the appropriation or change to the mill rate as recommended by council members O’Connor, Whitham, Glad, Llewelyn, Aurelia, O’Neal:
DEPARTMENT LINE ITEM INCREASE/DECREASE REVISED LINE ITEM TOTAL
Community Services Payroll-Regular 27,600 708,945
Community Services Outside Services 20,000 22,000
Health Dept. Payroll – Part Time 7,000 45,000
Health Dept. Payroll – Overtime (7,000) 38,000
Recreation Dept. Consumable Supplies 500 500
Recreation Dept. Program Materials (500) 6300
Sterling House Community Grant 25,000 270,000
Library Association Community Grant 50,000 3,676,530
Employee Benefits Health Insurance (100,000) 13,849,576
Employee Benefits Pension Benefits (522,600) 5,437,921
Board of Education Board of Education 500,000 127,502,725
151,557,497
The motion to amend passed 6 to 4 via roll call vote as follows:
Mr. O’Connor-YES, Mr. Green-NO, Mr. O’Neal-YES, Ms. Gibson-NO, Mr. Afriyie-NO, Ms. Whitham-YES, Ms. Shake-NO, Mr. Llewelyn-YES, Mr. Aurelia-YES, Chairman Glad-YES
Mr. Green moved, seconded by Ms. Shake, to amend the item by appropriating the sum of $260,514,370 as indicated below with no change to the mill rate and recommended by council members Shake, Afriyie, Gibson, Green:
2025 BUDGE PROPOSALS CHANGE FULL AMOUNT
ARPA $500,000 $500,000
(American Rescue Plan Act)
Board of Education $500,000 $128,002,725
Town Budget $500,000 $260,514,370
Discussion followed. The motion to amend failed 4 to 6 via roll call vote as follows:
Mr. O’Connor-NO, Mr. Green-YES, Mr. O’Neal-NO, Ms. Gibson-YES, Mr. Afriyie-YES, Ms. Whitham-NO, Ms. Shake-YES, Mr. Llewelyn-NO, Mr. Aurelia-NO, Chairman Glad-NO.
Ms. Shake moved, seconded by Mr. Green, to amend the item by appropriating the sum of $262,614,370 as indicated below with no change to the mill rate and recommended by council members Shake, Afriyie, Gibson, Green:
2025 BUDGET PROPOSALS:
FINAL ASK CHANGE FULL AMOUNT
Pension Contribution -$500,000 $5,460,521
Non-Lapsing funds from balance
of unspent town funds FY24 -$2,000,000 $0
General Fund Utilization +$2,000,000 $2,000,000
ARPA +$600,000 $600,000
Stratford Library Grant +$75,000 $3,701,530
Sterling House Community Grant +$25,000 $270,400
Board of Education +3,000,000 $130,002,725
Town Budget $262,614,370
Discussion followed. The motion to amend failed 4 to 6 via roll call vote as follows: Mr. O’Connor-NO, Mr. Green-YES, Mr. O’Neal-NO. Ms. Gibson-YES, Mr. Afriyie-YES, Ms. Whitham-NO, Ms. Shake-YES, Mr. Llewelyn-NO, Mr. Aurelia-NO, Chairman Glad-NO.
Each Council Member gave concluding remarks regarding the budget and process.
The main motion as amended passed 6 to 4 via roll call vote as follows:
Mr. O’Connor-YES, Mr. Green-NO, Mr. O’Neal-YES, Ms. Gibson-NO, Mr. Afriyie-NO, Ms. Whitham-YES, Ms. Shake-NO, Mr. Llewelyn-YES, Mr. Aurelia-YES, Chairman Glad-YES.
Regarding taxes for town residents, the following was determined:
WHEREAS, the estimated revenues of the Town of Stratford other than by taxation for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025, are $ 59,635,475; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council has proposed an operating budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025;
and
WHEREAS, a tax levy at the rate of 40.20 mills on the dollar on the Grand List of taxable property [excluding motor vehicle property] in the Town of Stratford on October 1, 2023, is necessary to meet the appropriations, less the estimated amount of revenue from other sources as permitted by law to be raised;
and
WHEREAS, a tax levy at the rate of 32.46 mills on the dollar on the Grand List of taxable motor vehicle property in the Town of Stratford on October 1, 2023, is necessary to meet the appropriations, less the estimated amount of revenue from other sources as permitted by law to be raised;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY ORDERED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF STRATFORD:
That a tax rate of 40.20 mills on the dollar on the Grand List be and is hereby levied against all taxable property [excluding Motor Vehicle] in the Town of Stratford on the Grand List of October 1, 2023; and
That a tax rate of 32.46 mills on the dollar on the Motor Vehicle Grand List be and is hereby levied against all taxable motor vehicle property in the Town of Stratford on the Motor Vehicle Grand List of October 1, 2023; and
That said taxes shall be due and payable in two equal installments, one half thereof on July 1, 2024, and the second half thereof on January 1, 2025, provided, however, that any tax, the aggregate amount of which shall not exceed $100.00 shall be due and payable in one payment on July 1, 2024.
Mr. Llewelyn moved to accept, seconded by Mr. O’Connor, and the motion passed 6 to 4 via roll call vote as follows:
Mr. O’Connor-YES, Mr. Green-NO, Mr. O’Neal-YES, Ms. Gibson-NO,
Mr. Afriyie-NO, Ms. Whitham-YES, Ms. Shake-NO, Mr. Llewelyn-YES, Mr. Aurelia-YES, Chairman Glad-YES.
The meeting was adjourned by a unanimous vote.
