Budget in Brief

FY 2004 

 

T

he Town of Windsor’s FY04 proposed budget reflects the impact of a slowing economy, reduction in state aid and an increase in the town’s debt service obligations. Windsor is fortunate to experience growth in its grand list, and proposing a fiscally responsible budget means carefully analyzing how the town can reduce or shift expenditures, optimize efficiency gains and increase revenues in a responsible manner.

 

D

espite the objective to minimize service impacts to Windsor residents, our financial realities demand certain changes in how services are provided. This Budget in Brief provides an overview of impacts to programs and services by each town department, which document changes between FY03 and FY04. The FY04 proposed budget of $77,323,970 is an increase of 4.27% over the FY03 adopted budget and would result in a tax increase of 2.98% (.97 mills).

 

  

  • State Aid reduced $472,000

  • Building Permit Revenues decrease $100,000

  • Interest earnings decrease $430,000

  • Debt Service increases $565,500

  • MDC Sewer charges increase $254,000

  • Liability Insurance & Worker’s Compensation increases $225,000

  • Town operating budget decreases $261,920

  • 6 positions remain vacant and un-funded

  • Reduce part-time staffing hours equivalent to 6.00 FTEs

  • Employee wage concessions total $150,000.

 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 
   
   
     

 
·        State grant cut $100,000
·        Fixed costs increase 5.57%
·        Cost Savings of $318,000
·        Staffing at High School increased to meet  
      higher enrollment
·        Enhanced programs for students at risk of
      failing
·        Increased support for gifted and talented
      students

 

Text Box: Administrative
 
·        Financial Analyst position remains vacant
·        Eliminate part-time payroll clerk
·        Increased efficiencies resulting from better  
      use of technology
·        Reduce organization wide training budget
      by 34%
·        Share .25 FTE administrative support with
      Building Department
 

 
 
·        Sr. Engineer Aide position remains vacant
·        Traffic counts and analysis to be delayed
·        Reduce in-house surveying
·        Delayed pavement management activities

 
·        Reduce IT position by .5 FTE to support
      Information Technology

 

Text Box: Public Works +$181,490 4.68%
 
·        One position to remain vacant
·        Replace portion of State Aid for Roads
      with town funds
·        Reduce athletic field lining
·        Reduce seasonal employees by .75 FTE
      and increase contractual services

 

 

·        Reduce number of vehicle replacements
·        Decreased participation in regional task teams
·      Replace funding for expired federal grants
·        Support for Partnership at Elementary School  
      reinstated, with the actual funding located in the
      Town Support for Education portion of the
      budget
 

 

 

 

 

  

·        Consolidate P.A.L. operations at 330
      Windsor Avenue
·        Increase user fees to make certain programs
      are self-supporting
·        Streamline Sr. Center transportation
      services
·        Reduce Northwest Park Naturalist position
      to part-time status
 

 

 

·        Reduce mosquito control activities
·        Secretarial position to remain vacant
·        Utilize state grants for basic operations
·        Continue pursuit of regional health district

 

Text Box: Information Services ($13,030) (3.24%)
 
·        Eliminate evening hours in Town Clerk’s
      Office
·        Reduce scope and size of Windsor
      magazine and Annual Report
 

 

Text Box: Fire ($18,030) (3.06%)
 
·        Reduce capital repairs
·        Reduce small equipment purchases
 

 
Text Box: Town Managers Office ($23,760) (6.22%)
 
·        Eliminate summer intern position
·        Reduce Administrative Aide position by .5
      FTE to support Building Department
 

 
Text Box: Organization Wide
 

·        Reduce pay increases for all employees
·        Reduce travel and meeting budgets by
      $30,000
·        Reduce training budgets by $63,000
·        Pursuing potential for selling real estate for
      non-governmental operations
·        Researching potential for creating utility for
      sewer, stormwater and refuse billing
·        Fund balance is projected to be 7.5%,
      which is short of 8% policy target
·        Decrease Community Services Funding by
      $22,500 (First Town Downtown decreased
      from $50,000 to $40,000 and Celebrate
      Windsor was decreased by from $25,000 to
      $12,500.