Board of Finance Special Meeting 03/30/2026

001This is NHTV2 North Haven Government Television, a service of North Haven Community Television. The following program is brought to you through the support of the town of North Haven. Meeting of the Board of Finance for March 30th, 2026. Uh this is a uh meeting solely to discuss the uh the budget for the uh next fiscal year, the year ending 2627. As a lot of you uh know, we uh had a meeting last Wednesday and we agreed to u readjourn this evening. So what I'd like to do to start things off was just uh give the people in the audience a couple updates um uh from last meeting. Uh we have gotten a lot of letters. Uh by my last count, I think we got uh something in the range of 30 additional letters uh that

002came in uh after our meeting of last Wednesday. Uh most of them have been distributed to the board. If your letter came after noon today, um it'll be circulated to the board uh sometime next week. Uh we talked a little bit about the um ECS money and how there's some discussion at the state level about trying to boost that for towns and cities here in the uh in the state. Uh I've talked with Dave Yakarino, Mike and I and Rich have talked. We don't have a firm number for that, but um I'm fairly confident saying that we believe that would probably only be in the range of let's say 100 to $200,000. Uh last Wednesday we did have the grand list but as was pointed out to the members and to those of you who

003are in the audience uh the grand list we had to time was preba so pre-appeals what I'm saying uh we do have a finalized grand list uh this evening uh the grand list is 57216,000 less after the appeals. Uh that translates into about $1.6 million less in uh revenue for the uh for the town in the upcoming year. The other thing and you have to give me a second to find my information. But >> sir, is that that's the amount that's under appeal, right? Not necessarily, but the settled amount would be >> that you have the final grand list, Mr. Heland. >> So the 57 million >> of the appeal of the appeals that that have been granted. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. Uh I think everyone else uh who I'm sorry

004I think everyone who was here last week u heard us talk about the uh the medical insurance for the the board of ed and now I think just last Wednesday that day we had gotten a um a a new estimate for the total amount uh for the board of ed for next year and then that number was uh $1.4 million uh less than we had anticipated when the board of ed put their budget together. So, um I did ask the superintendent to um please give us uh some idea of what the impact in terms of the uh the job savings would be uh with the million for savings. I'd like to just um uh remind those of you who are here what it was last week and I'll tell you what we believe it to

005be uh today. So, back on March 3rd, uh we had gotten a letter. Um the letter uh talked about uh the potential cuts and the number of positions that might have to be eliminated where those cuts to go through. Uh that was a total of 35 positions. It was 25 certified positions, eight non-certified, two other individuals and it was elimination of the uh world language program at the middle school. Um, we now have a new letter which I we got just last week which would be the elimination of 15 positions, four non-certified and two individuals. Or in other words, uh, 14 of the positions in the original letter would be saved as would I believe the World Language Program since it wasn't mentioned here uh, in the uh, the letter we got last week. Uh,

006having said that, uh, I'm gonna let Mike talk for just one second, please. Can I stand up? Okay. So, I wanted to say a few words here tonight regarding the process as to what's going to unfold starting tonight. But before I get there, I would like to just summarize what we just learned about the revised grand. For those that have been part of the meetings, I have been saying all along that the grant list grew 2.7% and it yield $3,300,000 in incremental revenue versus what was a $10.6 million request and expenditure. So what Tim just summarized with the appeals, we lost $54,575,000 in terms of gross grand, which equates to about 1.6 million less in revenue than what we had anticipated. So the net gain of the grand list went from 3.3 million in incremental

007revenue to 1.7 million. Hence it reflects the loss of the appeals, the grand list and the tax revenue associated with that. So that's where we are right now. So that brings us to tonight. So tonight is a special board of finance meeting. Public comment is after the meeting tonight. What happens here tonight in terms of what this board of finance finally concludes will be what will be memorialized in resolutions. And those resolutions will go to two additional meetings coming up. April 11th, 7:00 here at the high school and May 13th. Those are the two meetings where the public can come back and then offer their opinions on whatever those resolutions are going to show tonight. Those resolutions will propose a mill rate and percentage of increases on the town side and the board of education

008side. In the end, it goes to the referendum in May. So, I wanted to share this with you because we had public comment in the beginning last time, but it's a special meeting tonight. So, we're doing the public comment like we normally would at the end. But that does not mean in the next two meetings coming up, May 13th uh uh and I'm sorry, April 13th and April 11th to May 13th. Those two meetings will have the opportunity to speak ahead of time in public conf. So tonight, this board of finance has some work to do to come up with what the what the proposal will be to go to the next two town meetings and then eventually to the referendum. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mike. And uh just a minor correction there. So

009the public hearing would be two weeks from tonight, which would be April 13th, and the main meeting will be on the 11th. Thank you. >> All right. M Mr. Chairman, could I just make one comment based upon what Mr. Freda just said? >> Certainly. >> Thank you. Um so again, because this is uh a special board of finance meeting, it is considered a workshop or a working board of finance meeting. Um and we have on our agenda this evening uh as an agenda item, the first one in fact, uh finalize the fiscal year 2627 budget. But as Mr. Freda just told you we are not finalizing the budget this evening. All we are doing is finalizing a recommendation that will be revealed to the public at the public hearing. There is still ample opportunity for

010public comment both this evening, excuse me, as well as at the public hearing. And so we will not be finalizing the budget until our May board of finance meeting. So I just like to make that important distinction. We are not finalizing the budget this evening. If you were told that we were, unfortunately, you were misinformed. So, we are trying to put together a budget that we can produce a budget booklet that will be made available to the public 5 days before the public hearing and then you can all review it and make your comments at the public hearing. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Nancy. So, I'll move that we uh amend the agenda to strike the word finalized in L of the word recommend. >> Second, please. Second. >> All in favor?

011>> I. Any uh opposed? >> Thank you. >> Uh where is Tim? Down the end. Sorry. You got that, Tim? >> Sorry. Thank you. >> Okay. Um we'll have some deliberation, but Nancy, why don't we start with you? You did send around to the member some some potential cuts which I'm sure you'd like to discuss. >> Sure. Um and how would you like to work this, Mr. chairman because we've also been presented with a slightly different set of declinations this evening that is different from what we received in our packet for the March 18th meeting. So, do you want me to go through my list and then we'll review the changes on the declination sheet? >> Sure. Go ahead. >> Okay. All right. So uh I provided uh the chair as and he then uh

012shared with the rest of the board some of my recommended uh changes and they fall into three different categories. One are uh I have 13 reductions in expenditures on the town side. I have uh six reductions in the capital budget and three increases in revenue. That's projected revenue because again just so you all understand if we can access realistically uh outside sources of revenue that takes some of the weight off of the taxpayers. So it's not just about cutting expenditures. We also have to look at the other side of the ledger which is the revenue. Okay. starting uh I've I've organized this uh in descending order uh dep based upon the the total savings uh due to this recommendation. The first being a position one of uh several positions created for the town uh which

013is in the treasur and finance office. It is a new position uh termed uh the assistant finance director. Uh I believe that this is a a position uh that was originally I believe an office manager and that position was eliminated and now I think they're trying to create an assistant finance director. Um I think that given the fact that we now in the next year will have Mr. Monaco as the finance director in addition to a controller in addition to um a treasurer HR personnel and five bookkeepers. I think that this particular position that has a salary of over $131,000 plus another probably 25% for benefits uh may be redundant. So that's my recommendation is to eliminate that proposed position. >> So just to be clear, there is a reduction within the personnel table >>

014of 103,480 for another position. So this is not a net increase. So, if we go to the employment table, it's on page 41. >> Yeah. >> So, this position is created um you are removing the office manager position. Uh there's an increase in the HR personnel position and then you've also created a grant writer position. So there is an increase of course from 2526 to 2627 in the overall department. >> Yes, there is. >> Yeah. And and part of that is due to this new position. So it in in my opinion uh this particular new position isn't warranted and we did not receive any additional information uh that would describe the the need for this. If Mr. Monaco can make an argument for why this position is needed. It's not just about dollars and cents,

015but why would this position be needed? >> You got to press the button. You got You got to pull it out and press the button, Rich. There. Pull all the way out. There's a button there. >> Pull push it up. >> We can hear me. >> Yeah. >> Okay. In reality, um there's two positions being eliminated. And if you if you're going to say there's a position being added, that means there's also two positions being eliminated. Basically, what is what the entire concept is the existing controller will be moving to an assistant finance director's position. the um office manager will move to controller and the bookkeeper one position will not be filled. Overall this department year over year just went up only 1%. >> Thank you Richard. >> And and the the bookkeeper one will

016become I assume be one of the bookkeeper twos or just being >> bookkeeper one will not exist any longer. >> I see the position will not be filled. We will be short a body there and both Ingret and the controller will pick up the workload as will other people in the department. >> Thank you, Rich. Go ahead, Nancy. >> So, this should I just move on to the next? >> Yes, please. >> Suggestion. Okay. So, within the police department, uh, personnel part-time, uh, we have, uh, traffic camera review for $100,000. Um, this, uh, is a position that really hasn't had a whole lot of description to it other than just it existing in the police department under part-time. Um, and I just want to point out that I assume that this is part of the

017overall uh ATESD municipal plan. Uh, but I can assure you that I did attend these meetings and the police chief confirmed that this municipal plan would not cost the town anything and that there was sufficient current staffing to man this particular position at no extra cost. Uh, and also there's no fee to the town uh for services provided by the vendor uh ultimate. >> So I'm sure you looked at the income side of the budget. There's $100,000 that is budget on the income side in to offset the uh the cost of someone going through the tape and >> right and >> so that that is a projected number. We really have no way to calculate exactly how much >> that's not the first time we use a projected number. >> Tim, if I can expand

018on it then it's simple. It's a placeholder. We have a $100,000 expense. We have a $100,000 revenue. If it ends up being a $10,000 expense, we'll have a $10,000 revenue. If it ends up being a $200,000 expense, we'll have a $200,000 revenue. The way the system is set up is the town the funds the town receives from um this program part of it can be used for administrative cost which is a line we're putting into the police department for it. The balance will go in for infrastructure for the town. So it's strictly a placeholder. The dollar amount means nothing because it's balanced off on expense and revenue. Same number on both sides of the equation. It zeros out. >> Right? So if the money is going into infrastructure for the town, then it's not going

019to personnel who are conducting this this work. >> I I don't I don't mean to interrupt, but look, why don't we do this? I don't want to argue over Let's just hear what you have to say. >> Okay, >> let's have a little short discussion of why they're there and and whether we agree with them or not, we can all decide later, but Sure. >> Let's just go through the items, please. >> All right. Next is under personnel policy expenses, uh labor negotiations. I'd like to reduce this from $75,000 down to $15,000. That's a $60,000 savings. Uh last year, meaning the last completed year, fiscal year 2425, we spent about $9,500 on this. Uh year to date this year, we've spent all of $400. Um so I think that uh budgeting $75,000 seems a little

020bit excessive and that this is an opportunity to perhaps make some trimming. Nancy. Um, >> yes. >> We've been fortunate. The town has a labor attorney and the labor attorney has historically negotiate the labor contracts with the unions in the town. Uh, and he will continue to do so in the future. Uh, we've been fortunate um that Rich has some experience in this and he's been able to negotiate some of the contracts on behalf of the town. It's not something I believe and he can expound um he'll be doing exclusively in the future. So um we just happen to have someone who's got the skill set that can do this. But if you go back in time, this particular item was always there and it was used to fund the costs of a labor attorney,

021>> right? But based upon our historical data, we haven't actually needed it. >> I hope Rich stays healthy then. >> I hope so, too. Okay, next position. Can I just just give you the the short story right now? >> Sure. >> I still do negotiate the labor contracts. I'll start public works actually next week. >> But come halfway through this fiscal year, fire contract is due and they're reverting to the old model of using attorneys. So if there's an attorney in the room, that means the town brings an attorney in the room. The contracts I've negotiated have been strictly with rank and file. We come to terms and then we bring the attorneys just to write it out. fire is going to be a little different this year. The old model attorneys will be present

022from day one. So, that's the reason to make sure that money stays in there. >> And h how many contracts will need to be uh negotiated in this coming year? Fire you mentioned. I'm negotiating public works starting this week and then come December January fire needs to negotiate and I believe that's the only contract that needs to be negotiated for that part of the year >> right so that will be next year >> yeah it'll end in June so it needs to be >> so June >> I don't believe in what was done in the past and contracts dragging on for two and three years we negotiate the contract before it comes due and resolve it and move forward Mhm. >> Uh okay. My next recommendation is once again within police. Uh this is personnel

023full-time. Uh this is a a placeholder uh referred to as recruit replace retiree. Um and again uh this is a $50,000 expense in which uh we have some retirees that based upon their contract uh can actually continue to be paid while uh they're taking paid time off at the very end of their careers. And so this money is uh suggested to be used to bring in new personnel and have them overlap. Uh, unfortunately, this exact same concept is not being allowed with the fire department. So, uh, so I didn't think that it was fair to be having the the police have this option and not the fire department. >> Nancy, if I can, the police have a clause in their contract that allows them to extend and use vacation and sick time, a certain amount

024of it, at the end of their career. Fire does not have that same clause in their contract. And and you negotiated that contract with the police? >> No, that was there before I started. >> Okay. Uh okay. Uh and then building inspection permits uh permitting software reduced from uh $45,000 to $25,000. A savings of $20,000. Again, in the last fiscal year, we spent only 15 and year to date we've only spent 15. So, I thought that the $25,000 cap uh it was perfectly reasonable. Um and 45 seemed seemed excessive. Uh my next recommendation is uh under audit and internal audit. Uh this is a fixed asset audit which is a component of our auditing process. Uh I recommend reducing that from 23,000 down to 7,000 for a savings of 16,000. Again, in the last completed

025fiscal year, we spent only about $3,200 and in fiscal year 2526, we spent uh less than $900. So, uh so I think that it's it's perfectly reasonable to to re reduce that. Uh next is uh I'm I'm loathed to to cut the library at all. However, uh if you look at some of the historical data for the library and electricity, uh I think that we can actually make a a slight reduction from uh $79,000 down to $64,000 for a savings of $15,000. Again, in 2425, we only spent 58. Uh thus far this year, or at least through February, we've only spent about 39,000. Uh next in parks or division of public works uh maintenance of vehicle equipment uh I think based upon historical data we can reduce that about $11,000 again based upon uh last

026completed year as well as year-to-ate spending knowing fully well that we could actually ramp up spending in the spring. uh central supply services, there's a new position uh referred to as facility manager. Uh and again, it seems like there's only one person in that whole department. So, I don't really understand why we need to pay an additional uh lumpsum amount of $7,700 uh on top of the the salary amount. And perhaps we could defer this to to another year. central supply services uh postage. I think we could further reduce that from 45,000 down to 375 for a saving of $7,500. Again, based upon historical data um that we've spent uh less than that in the past. Next is under maintenance overtime reduce that from 12,300 to 5,300 for a savings of $7,000. Uh last year

027we only sp we spent less than $3,000 and thus far this year we've only spent $20. Tax collector office supplies and equipment reduced from 7500 to 2500 for a savings of $5,000. Um uh last year we only spent 2400 and year to date we've only spent $172. And last but not least, in town expenditures, central facilities, uh we have an alarm lease uh expenditure that I'd like to reduce from 14,000 to 10 for a very small amount of just a $4,000 savings, but every little bit counts. Uh and so that's it for the town budget. Should I continue on to capital? >> Any of the members have >> information? I bet I promise it's your benefit. Could you speak directly into the microphone? Of course. I'm terribly sorry. >> Sure. >> My apologies. I'd be

028happy to. >> Mr. Chairman, how would you like me to proceed? >> One second, please. >> Sorry, Nancy. Go right ahead. Unless any members have any questions or comments on some of the cuts that Nancy had for now. If not, uh Nancy, why don't you go on to the um I guess it's the capital, right? Or the board of ed, sorry. Uh again my comment regarding the board of ed budget is uh no further changes beyond the request made by the board of finance chair uh to reduce uh to 72,160386 uh which is compatible with a uh 5.35% increase uh over the current fiscal year. >> Yeah. Is your microphone on, Nancy? >> It is. I'll hold it even closer. So, my recommendation for the board of education budget is uh that no further changes.

029Again, this is relative to the list of declinations that have been provided uh to me at the 318 meeting by my colleagues. Uh uh I have no further changes beyond the chair's re recommended uh or requested reduction down to a uh 5.4% increase which uh lands the board of ed at uh an additional $3.6 million over the current fiscal year. Uh capital budget. Uh I have uh six items. uh Capitol Police. Uh I think that we can reduce the total number of cruisers that are purchased from four down to two new police cruisers. Uh that's a reduction from 200,000 down to 100,000 or a savings of $100,000. Uh last fiscal year we spent 80,000. This year uh we budgeted 150. uh adding two police cars is consistent with what we've done in the past uh

030of either two or three uh cruisers. And then consistent with that same recommendation is of course the emergency light bar and siren packages that goes with the cruisers uh reducing from four to two and that's a savings of $80,000. Uh under public works uh the plan of conservation and development. I'm recommending that we reduce this from $150,000 down to 120,000, which still seems very high to me. But I happened to do a little bit of research on this and I found out that um our previous North Haven uh plan of conservation and development went from 2017 to 2027, so it's not complete yet. Um and uh the Connecticut POC consultant bids have been capped by many municipalities at $120,000 for a full update including robust community engagement which of course is something that we all

031want. >> So Nancy on that item uh I'm sorry POC is what >> uh plan of conservation and development. >> Okay. Sorry. >> Sure. >> And so who has capped it please? So, in researching this, I found that several other Connecticut municipalities when they put out their bids, they have capped the bid at $120,000. And so, I I think that that's a very reasonable number to be shooting for. And again, we I don't believe that we've put this out to bid yet. So, uh I think that is something that is is uh up to our discretion. Uh the next point that I may like to make is under capital building department. Um so there was a request for a building department microfich machine. Uh and I think that um if if needed we could certainly

032utilize the one that uh I believe the library has. So that would be a savings of uh $12,000. >> So just for the record they meant the New Haven Library when they said that in our workshop. >> Are you sure that we don't have one in our North Haven Library? Okay. Well, again, if we go with the scanning machine that they're recommending, perhaps we can utilize that instead and scan some of the documents that are on the the microfich at this point. Do we have hard copies of them or are they only on microfich? >> And the new haven um machine has been out of service. >> Is that on, Bob? >> That's not on. >> Scanning is totally different than the microf actually. building went to New Haven today because I had to look

033up something on that old system. >> Was the machine working? Because >> we don't have a machine. >> Yeah. No, in New Haven. >> Um I don't know. He went there today. I know that much. >> Uh under capital Finance, uh there's a line item referred to as reval 2024. Uh which I think we can reduce from 20 to $10,000. Well, just just so you know, I mean that that line's been in here as long as I've been sitting on this board. We basically amortize the cost of our reval uh every year until, you know, for 5 years obviously until the reval occurs and then we have the money available. Um and >> so where does that money go? >> It's held in a GL within the finance department. So when we have to pay

034for the reval, the money's there. >> Mhm. >> As opposed to just being in the budget and it's utilized as an underexpended fund or transfer. year. >> Oh, I know it's in the budget, >> but if it's not utilized in the given year, not spent, then it could be transferred to cover other costs. >> Uh, admittedly, but um that just means we'd have a a big jump in the reval cost uh in the reval years. Mhm. Yeah. I don't know why it's called Revel 2024, but in any case, uh capital information technology. Uh I understand that this is a very important uh topic given um cyber security in our town, but I I do think that there is an opportunity to reduce this by $10,000. Last fis completed fiscal year, we spent $65,000 and this

035year we've budgeted $85,000 and that was a 31% jump. So, uh, I think that having another big jump from, uh, 85 up to $100,000 seems like a lot, but, um, I think that's >> Can I just jump in on >> please? Yes. >> Need the microphone. >> um, being an IT person as well, that is the cost of making sure that people using town services or the town don't get hacked. And if you get hacked because we can't afford that, it's a nightmare if you have to go through that process. I've known people that have done done that and my friends know like I am all about cyber security whether it's my job or it's my house and that is the cost from the program that we need. So it's not necessarily it's we don't

036in control we're not in control on that. That's all I'm just saying. No, I I I completely agree that cyber security is very important. I just don't have a sense whether this is uh something where we have an actual bill for $100,000 or it's an a guesstimate of what some of these contracts. >> My guess is that the IT person did go to whatever the vendor and got that estimate. >> Okay. And then uh those are my expenditure reductions. I have three revenue increases. Uh the first I did mention at our March 18th meeting. Uh and that is under town revenue general. Interest on short-term investments increased from 1 million to1,250,000. Uh in the last fiscal year completed fiscal year 2425, we we collected $2 million. Actually over 2 million. Uh after eight months in

037the current fiscal year, we have collected about 1.2 million. So we're on track to to be somewhere in the $ 1.9 million range. So uh by the end of this fiscal year. So I think uh shooting for a million2 or a million250 for next year is I think I think is reasonable. Second, uh, under tax collector tax revenue, uh, interest in leans increased from, uh, 600,000 to $700,000 for an increase of $100,000 in revenue. Uh, in 2425, we collected just a hair under a million. Uh, after eight months in the current year, we have collected uh, just under $600,000. uh the current tax collection rate at the end of February 2026 is less than target. So it is reasonable to assume that the revenue from interest in leans charges will actually go up in the

038next fiscal year. And last but not least under town revenue general uh we have town miscellaneous receipts uh which I believe we could increase from 350 to $380,000 in 2425. We collected uh almost $520,000. After eight months in the current fiscal year, we have collected about $255,000 and we're on track to collect somewhere in the neighborhood of 380,000 by the end of the year. So, that's all I have for revenue increases. Uh, one thought that I did have that we can certainly discuss is, uh, if need be, particularly in light of the fact that our grandlist uh, revenue has actually declined, that we may need to turn to the fund balance revenue as we have done in the past. And so, I would like to at least put out a a suggestion for the board's

039consideration of perhaps uh, putting in $200,000 in fund balance transfer. uh as part of our uh s out uh source of revenue to fund our proposed budget. And those are my suggestions. >> All right. Thank you, Nancy. Um as the board knows, but I'll just remind those here, we will vote in the expenditure side this evening. Um we do talk about the revenues. There's some information we have on the revenues. You already heard us talk about the grand list. Um there may be some room here, Nancy, to adjust some of these. I will say that on the um miscellaneous receipts, although your increase is relatively modest, um I believe in the most current year, the reason we're up is that we had quite a bit of um blight claims. In fact, we had one claim

040alone that was in the six figure range that we collected. Uh so don't know that we're going to get to that point in the coming year. And as we all know in the board, there are a couple other line items within the budget, town clerk fees, fire fees that we've been missing on quite a bit that are probably going to need need to be reduced. So there might be some offsets here when we eventually do get to that side of the budget. >> So Blade has been two years in a row large amounts. >> I don't know. Two years ago, I was referring to just the current. >> Okay. So in 2425 we collected >> I have since the last couple years I've been pushing blight those fines. That's where that revenue came from. >>

041Okay. >> All right. Thank you, Nancy. >> Uh, Mr. Howian, do you have something you like to say? >> Yeah. Uh, yeah. um all of the um first I wanted to mention that uh the declination list uh that was uh worked out with the uh the finance department uh that we did receive at the in our March meeting. Um, a lot of it made sense and uh I want to thank uh uh both the finance department and the department heads that uh that that came to some agreement on how we could uh have a more responsible budget um that was uh that would limit the uh uh or reduce the increases that uh we're going to be facing this year. Um on the um with respect to the grand list, the the grand list um

042is uh unfortunately uh when it when it comes to um a lot of our uh categories here, um it it it seemed a little bit uh flat, a little a little stagnant. Um the uh the residential went up.1% the commercial went down.5%. Um and uh the industrial went down.9%. Uh personal property is up 8.5%. That's an additional $49 million there. And the motor vehicles up over 5% that's an additional $14 million there. uh the uh the Amazon uh phase in credit they were getting uh has ended and that brings us an additional $1 million of of uh of grand list uh of property value and um so um with with all the exemptions and uh credits and appeals Um the grand list did go up um $113 million and uh that's 1.3%. So uh not

043as much as we had hoped, but uh uh you know, Mr. Freda, please don't quit your day job. And uh let's let's uh keep the ball rolling in. >> But now just to just before we move off, did you say 113 million? Uh 113 million on the grand list on uh oh no that's >> looks seem like it went up um >> oh no I'm sorry so >> 56 million yes that I I was working off the >> Y >> pre-appeals 57 million. Thank you very much for that correction. So um some of our our our uh our larger departments in town always uh require a good look here and there and uh all the presentations made during the workshops were uh were impressive. Um I did want to uh uh give a little a

044nod a little respect to the uh the fire chief's presentation. Um he's he's warning us he's warning the town that uh that due to manpower issues and economic growth that uh it it's it's hard to uh ignore or postpone um the the the the needs the current and future needs of of the fire department to adequately fulfill their their mission. Um and uh because of that uh to reflect that um and in in in speaking with some of the other uh some some other people in town some including some people at town hall uh it is acknowledged that down the road we are um and and uh and even uh into this present day uh some additional um personnel um would is is necessary to fulfill um to fulfill their uh their obligations and their

045uh and their mission. So, um with that in mind, um I would like to make uh I'm not sure you'll allow it uh a motion to uh amend the the uh the personnel table here. Um right now there is a line in there um recruits to replace retiree of two with uh with a um a zero budget allocation because uh it is to replace uh others in the in the future but it's allowing the chief to make a hire. Um, I would like to uh either amend that line or to uh uh add a line to um allow uh four recruits contingent on the chief's ability to um be awarded have the town awarded a safer grant. So there would be zero impact on this year's budget and the cost of those additional firefighters would

046increase by uh approximately 25% per year until they're fully funded in year uh four. Okay. And this allows the chief to make that application. I know that the chief came and asked um us or as asked the first selectman if he could go out and and and and apply uh for a safer grant. But until this employment table gets changed, it it it seems like he he can't make that application for for positions that that do not exist. So the request the the the motion I'm making is to amend the employment table to include four new firefighters if awarded the safer grant. Would you like to comment on this? >> Well, you need a second. >> I do need a second. And if there is no second, >> I will second simply for the purpose

047of discussion. >> I would have second. I was just going to make him sweat. >> I did not arrange for a second. >> I thought you'd at least like to discuss it even if you want to vote it down. >> Sorry. Um we have a second, so it's open for discussion. Um again this this achieves the same goal which a lot of uh people in town think is inadequate of only one person per year for the next four years and it gets it to the town at a a subsidized rate paid for partially by the federal government through this program. >> Uh I think all the board members should be heard Mike but here's my reaction. My reaction is, and this is obviously a a topic that's come up numerous times, and there's been a

048lot of people in town who've supported this, but the appropriate way to add, call it for firefighters, is for the chief or the fire board to come before this board and explain to us the dollars and cents, the mechanics of how it's going to work, what the long what the short-term and long-term cost is to the town of North Haven. I I don't want to we don't give blank checks and I don't mean to say they they sent they'd spend the money irresponsibly, but I don't want to put in the budget personally and again the other members will have a say here for positions that we know nothing about. We don't know the cost of it and we know that we listen we did this before, right? We had a presentation on safer and we

049added firefighters based on that presentation many years ago, right? To me that's the appropriate way for this board to handle a request of that nature. and I invite the other board members to please come. >> Yeah, I agree Tim. Um I would like to see the cost. >> So in my opinion, um I firmly believe that we need an entirely new model for fire department staffing in this town. And I'm not saying that because I think it should be zero. But I think that it is uh for for those who may not understand there are four shifts for the fire department. So, for example, if we wanted to activate a new fire engine, which requires three firefighters per shift times four, that means we would have to hire 12 firefighters in order to activate one

050engine. That's one extra apparatus on that would cover all four shifts. And I I just don't think that that particular model meets the demand of this community. So in this proposed budget, we have three new fire apparatus. We have two engines and one combination engine uh ladder truck which is called a quint. It represents a pretty good chunk of our capital budget. We've received numerous uh letters from folks saying uh I would support adding one more firefighter if it meant improving the safety of our community. But adding one more firefighter would not improve the safety of our community. It would not activate another vehicle. It would simply be another person in the rotation that would be available for substitutions. And I think the chief, if we added two, could then have 11 firefighters per shift.

051Uh but again, even to Mr. Halahan's point, even if we added four, what would that actually do for our community across four shifts? Uh I think that uh as I mentioned we need to look at the demand from our community and according to the fire chief's data that he presented to us about 75% of all calls that are made 911 calls for the fire department are actually medical in nature. Now a chunk of those are responded to previously by Nelson now by Yale or Y access uh their new ambulance service. Um, but I I think that we need to really look very carefully about how we are responding to these medical calls and how quickly can our firefighters get to those medical calls in engines and ladder trucks as opposed to a a fly vehicle

052in which we don't need to transport patients, but we simply need to get to them quickly in order to provide emergency medical care. So, uh, we ha we currently have two buildings for career firefighters and two buildings for volunteer firefighters. So, I think that, um, it would make sense to consider, uh, at some point, uh, expanding the capacity of Monoise's firehouse, which currently has one engine that is operated across four different uh, shifts. That's three people. three people in that firehouse at any given time. I think there's room for another vehicle to be activated there. Uh but again, I think all of this should be done very thoughtfully uh based upon the input not only of this board of finance and the board of fire commissioners, but input from the community. I would love for

053there to be a commission that is specifically designed to look at other communities and see how they're doing it and perhaps propose ways in which North Haven can do it uh in ways that are both affordable and also meet the the demands of our specific community. Thank you. >> Uh Mr. So, I wanted to share with everyone where we are on a safer grant concept. I have been and will continue to be a huge supporter of the safer grant process. In fact, the fire chief and I met within the last couple of weeks. I shared with him a speech I gave at a third congressional district mayor's meeting. 23 mayors and first selectmen from all over the third congressional district. And I asked some specific questions to the people who were there from Washington. And

054those questions were number one, what is the criteria for getting the safer grant? And what is the criteria for being rejected on a safer grant? Because a couple of years ago, we got rejected. And the response I got was that we need community letters. We need community support because without any of these letters, the support and without the momentum being built that the people in Washington who are processing the grants, the safer grant, it's almost fruitless. So, what we don't know about the safer grant process, at least as we sit here this evening, is that we don't know what the phasein's going to be. To put four firefighters in the in the budget without understanding what the phasein process would be. Is it 25% a year over over four years? Is it 33% over 3

055years? It's almost to me irrelevant because if the safer grant gets accepted, we can still execute the safer grant. So, I'm not sure what the value is of putting the the four firefighters in there because it doesn't mean anything to the people in Washington. What means something to the people in Washington that are going to approve this grant is the letters the support the state legislation or the leg the you know the state legislators our legislators who representing us Mike Frereda run putting a letter together talking about the need that's what's more important there's no importance to the people in Washington for putting four firefighters in and from a board of finance perspective we wouldn't know what to put it in for because we don't know what the phase in rates are. So, I want

056to be clear on this. The town, this administration will continue to support the safer grant process, but we have to do it to maximize the effectiveness of getting it accepted. Putting four firefighters in this budget means nothing. It has no bearing on the process in Washington. I can make an argument that it would would hurt us because it's presumptuous. So, we should stay with the process and do what the what the federal government has said to myself and the fire chief in terms of how to get this done. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Freda. Uh, anyone else have anything to say or would like to on this topic? >> No. Oh, ju just just to respond, uh, Mr. freedom. Uh I believe putting the four firefighters in here, which you might say is presumptuous,

057it it it shows uh a a level of commitment that we believe they are necessary, that we believe that the chief when he spoke to us spoke about his manpower shortage, his manpower needs, and the possibility of of of injury or poor response or uh or or other consequences. of uh of inadequate numbers of personnel. So I think putting the four in um puts our our foot forward and says to the to the chief and to Washington, yes, we believe we need these people. Um, and I, you know, I'm just not sure where, you know, where the where the cart and the horse is here because the application process for a safer grant occurs in August and September and it gets awarded at some point later on. So it it was my understanding or or

058or my presumption that uh we wanted to uh send the chief on this mission to apply for the safer grant by putting four people in here on a contingency basis. Remember it it has no impact on this year's budget. And whether the uh the phase in amount per year, whether it's done over three or four years, whether it's 25% a year, 33% a year, it doesn't matter. It's still a subsidy that the town should take advantage of >> and we're heading in this direction anyway. So, I'm just acknowledging where the town is going through the economic development and the uh and the needs of our community. Um, and as for uh uh Robert sir, as for the uh as for the the the the cost of this uh we in the declination uh list, we

059did cut uh the cost of those those firemen who were requested by the chief. We cut $355,000. So that that that that cut represents the the full cost well most of no most of the cost of those firemen. So that's um so I think we have those numbers in front of us and um and I think we have enough to go on if we want to uh tell the chief to go ahead and and make this application. >> Thank you Mr. Halahan. Any other comments on the board before we vote in this matter? >> All those in favor, please say I. >> All right. >> All those opposed, please say opposed. >> Opposed. >> Thank you for your consideration. >> Thank you, Mr. Al. >> Okay. Um, sorry, Mike. Go ahead. >> Yeah. Well, before

060we get to the budget, I do speak one last time on board. >> Go ahead. >> Oh, did you want to say something? >> I I'll let you go first, please. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Well, um I can see that uh by the tonight's attendance and interest and in the interest in the last meeting that um the the people um who care about education are here in our midst. We did receive many letters. We read those letters. we uh we take them into our into into consideration as we do our job here. the uh at this moment the the um the board of finance is still uh running uh over $2 million short of of the request from the board of education with the uh with with the amount that the health insurance savings has

061provided uh and some small additional expenses that Uh the board of education has indicated they need their revised request right now uh represents uh an 8.29% increase. Now uh they always speak what is what's being spoken about is what is wanted versus what is needed and they were um asked to go and reconsider and they they they uh at one point they did cut almost 900,000 from their uh initial request that was made in February. But the um you know I it it is true that there are people here tonight uh who who want to minimize any tax increase that's passed along to to the residential taxpayers. So that those people exist too. But tonight and in this budget cycle, the vast majority of opinions in this room and of our correspondents say that they

062and others are willing to pay an additional amount per month to adequately fund education in North Haven. Now, Thank you. All right. Very good. I do take corre I take corrections. Um the it is true that right now we have a a 1.45 mil rate increase uh built into the uh this year's proposal right now. if education was not given uh another dollar uh another dollar beyond uh the uh the request granted by the board of finance. And that does uh represent uh an additional $400 per year per for the average homeowner. But to fully fund this education request right now to fully fund what what is being asked for would be would uh translate to another uh point47 mills or 047 of a mill. And to the average taxpayer, that would be another $130

063per year or le some people call it $11 per month. >> Mike, could you give me that math again, please? >> Yeah. The that is the 47 mills. >> No, I want you to start at the beginning. How much of an increase are you suggesting? I'm suggesting that uh the shortfall right now of what they requested versus uh what is being uh proposed here by the board of finance, the shortfall is approximately $2 million. And $2 million is is uh just a little less than half a mill. >> So, >> is that correct? >> I I I want to make sure I get your math. So, what's the overall increase you're talking about? >> The overall increase? Yeah. >> For the >> was it the 825% that you mentioned earlier? >> 8.29. Yes. >> How

064many mills is that? >> Well, if uh they if their increase right now is uh 6.8 million, that represents uh about one and one and a quarter mill, right? It's about 1.35. >> 1.35 >> and that's without the town side, >> right? >> Okay. And uh and so what I'm saying right now is that it that that that the people in this room are willing to most, not all, but many are willing to pay that additional uh $11 per month on top of of the increase that we're already granting in order to fully fund education. So, they're saying that this budget with that additional sum granted to the board of education would pass. They're these are motivated constituents here that are here tonight and they've made I think they've made a good case that their

065proposal for for for adequate funding for education should be the starting point on the referendum at the referendum on that ballot. They believe that they represent the majority of this year's voting public. And from what I've seen and what I've read in the many letters here, both through email and on paper here tonight, that they've earned the right to test their proposition and their theory. And so I'm I'm requesting full funding. Tim, may I speak? >> Go right ahead, Nancy. >> Thank you very much. So, I think it's really important that everyone understands uh some of the behind the scenes uh negotiations and discussions that have taken place. So, I'm I'm going to take you through the timeline. So Nancy, I don't mean interrupt you. We still have Mike's motion table, which I if you're

066talking about his motion, please go ahead. >> But I just if you're talking about something else, I wanted to >> it's related to this and I think it's important for people to understand, including the board members to understand the context here. >> Your motion's over. >> So in the current fiscal year, >> uh the board of education has a budget of $68.5 million. A year ago, this board of finance, as well as the majority of PO people that voted at the referendum, voted to give the board of education every penny that was requested, an additional $4.5 million, which translated into about a 7% increase. Now, at their uh budget workshop this year that was on January 31st, the board of education and the superintendent made a request uh for a $76.1 million uh budget which

067represented an 11.14% increase uh in uh the very beginning of March. On March 3, actually it was March 1st or so, uh, our director of finance, Mr. Monaco, sent a request to the board of ed chair to reduce the increase to the board of ed budget from 11.14% down to 5.3%. In response, the board of education met and their response was to reduce their budget from 11.14 down to a 9.95% increase. So that's a savings of about $800,000. Now, uh not too long ago, we discovered, as was mentioned, this $1.4 $4 million lower projected medical and dental expense. Now, if the $9.95% board of ed request was properly reduced by this $1.4 million, then the request should have gone down to about 73.9 million. And that's a 7.9% increase. But they didn't do that. Instead,

068after a second round of requests from our board of finance chair, once again asking for a 5.35% increase and including this $1.4 million expense reduction, instead the uh board of education said, "We're sticking with our $9.95%. We'll acknowledge the the $1.4 $4 million lower projected expense, but they won't reduce their request. Instead, they cited about $276,000 in new expenses. Now, that 276,000 out of the total budget of 75 million is about4%. So, if you take the board of eds request of $75.3 million, which represents an extra $6.8 8 million for next year and a 9.95% increase and you account for this additional reduction in their expenses, then their net usable cash flow is not 6.8 million. It's really 8.2 million. $ 8.2 $2 million of net affected cash flow. And so that really translates into

069an effective increase of about 11.99%. All right. I know those are a lot of numbers, but I would challenge you to give me a list of towns in the state of Connecticut in which any municipality has approved a 12% increase in the board of ed budget. So, this is the history of the back and forth. We started pretty far apart. I think we've gotten a lot closer. Um because if you simply take the the 5.35% increase that the the chair has recommended and you account for this additional $1.4 million reduction, we get a lot closer. We're at 7.4%. That's a lot closer. But I think that if we're still going to be digging our heels in with this 9.95% and not accounting for any expenditure reductions, then that becomes a very difficult negotiating position to

070be in. Um, Mr. Halahan talked about people in the room who are education supporters. I consider myself an education supporter. I was one of you that was a a founder of the team for education and I fought for additional funding in this town back when the percent increases to the board of ed budget was 1%. Maybe 1.5%. And they were the board of finance was still trimming it. So I understand the importance of education. I understand exactly why you're fighting, but I also have looked at the data in the last few years and we've alternated between the board of ed gets every penny one year and then there's a reduction the next year, the reduction to the increase. And in those years in which there have been reductions to the increase, the superintendent has stood

071up at that very podium and said we can absorb this reduction without any negative impact to the students, teachers, staff or educational opportunities. And then in those same years they still end up with a surplus. That means budgeted money that has not been spent. So I think that that shapes my perspective as well as the perspective of of many people that serve on this board when we're considering a really very large percentage increase. The the 7% increase this year was a historic increase to the board of ed budget. an 11% increase >> uh is also unfathomable really in this town. And so I I think that we have we have an obligation on this board to not only separate needs from wants, which is very important, but we also have to figure out a way

072to pay for things. And I think that we have unfortunately gone to the taxpayers to pay for things for the last three years >> and we are facing a fourth year of mill rate increases. And it's great if some people are willing uh and have the means to actually support increases not only to the board of ed side but also to the town side. But I will point out to you that in January of this year, the Department of Social Security at the federal level uh made an announcement that they would be increasing their Social Security checks by approximately 2.8%. That means the average person that receives social security checks, and there are quite a few in this town, will get an extra $56 per month. That puts many people in this community in the

073position in which they have to choose between can I pay for my prescription medicine or can I pay my taxes. Uh and we we actually received several letters from contractors in this town. Uh one in particular who is uh uh does snow removal and he has to set up payment plans with some people because they can't afford to be paying uh the cost of snow removal and it's all because that their their revenue is not keeping up with the expenses associated with taxes. So, we on this board have an obligation to listen to everyone, but also we have the obligation to represent everyone in this town. Thank you, >> Mr. H. >> Sorry, I just have to make one correction. the um the amount uh that the board of finance is granting as an increase

074to the board of education right now is 3.66 million and that represents 93 mills. So I'm sorry I I the 6.8 8 million is what they actually requested um after their uh after their initial reduction when it went to 9.95% and now again with the changes in health insurance and some other expenses they're at 8.29%. We're still still a $2 million gap, but um between now and May, maybe we can close it a little. I'm I'm I'm asking that it it be fully closed, that we be fully fund education. Thank you, Mike. >> All right, Mike. Thank you for your comments. Um, >> and I do request a recess. >> Uh, I will arrange a recess momentarily. I was trying to do some math myself here, Mike, but I confer with Rich and actually Mike

075as well. I I think at the at the number you just suggested 8.29% and >> Excuse me. >> Yes, go ahead. >> And with the cuts that are uh being discussed here on the town side, that would be about a 1.92 or 95 increase in the mill rate. Just for information. Um, well, if it's point if if it's if it's 0.93 right now and that would add 047, well, we'll we'll check the math. We'll check the math at recess. >> Don't forget the grand list went down. >> Okay. >> But, you know, from from last week, it went up overall, but just barely, but it went down from last week, right? >> Okay. >> Oh, yeah. You're saying that the overall u increase in the mill rate of town and and education. >> Yes, I

076was referring to Yes. Yeah, I was referring to both. Yes. Right. >> The board of ed impact. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Mr. Chairman, could I have an explanation as to how you reach this 8.29%. >> How he he come up with 8.29. >> Yes. Um it >> um it's it's based on the nine the 995 increase. All right. >> Mhm. >> With the health savings of 1.411 million. >> That takes you down to a >> 1,411,000. >> That would be a 7.91% increase. 7.91. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> And then you added the expenses. >> I did because they indicated that there there would be some um additional expenses that they uh would need funding for. Uh and the workman's compensation line of 211,000. uh unemployment 50,000 and life insurance um uh the life insurance

077uh expense of 15,000. So I added those in. >> I see. >> I do read the letters they sent us. You know, >> yes, I I read it too. I just >> just before we recess, people want want to know why I was running. Oh, uh people want to know why I was uh going to Rich. So there was a suggestion that I thought of another way to keep um to uh decrease some expenses was to cut a couple of the concerts on the green and um which they already accounted for that in the calendar. We get a nice really calendar from the selectman's office. There's another thing that I thought we could might would uh be able to uh cut the calendar, but they already accounted for a couple concert's on the green and

078I don't know they can look into the calendar. So, I just wanted you to know why I was walking over there. >> The calendar acts as our town. >> Well, you need a town report. >> well, we have a nice fancy calendar with nice pictures. >> All right. Thank you, Diane. >> Any other comments uh by the board members before we take a brief recess? It's about 23 after. How much time do the members think they need? Quarter of maybe. I >> I I do have one quick question. Uh in in the board of ed request, their initial request, uh they asked for five new teaching positions and four new coaches in their list of reductions. Uh are those positions included in those reductions or not? >> I would assume so, but I'd have to

079defer to the board of ed. Maybe one of the board of ed members could >> because if that were the case then five of those original 15 positions or even five of the 10 would would not be contributing to >> Ron. Okay. So the question is there were some positions added to the board of ed budget in the original budget and the question is with the reduction we've been talking about um were they starting with the new positions and then reducing them down >> they're out okay when they when they cut the budget from 11 1111 to 995 >> right so you cut out those ads, if you will, right? And then the the positions I mentioned earlier in tonight's discussion would still be unfortunately people who might lose their positions. Correct. >> Correct. >>

080Okay. Nancy, does that answer your question? >> So then of the 15 certified positions, five of them would be the five new >> No, that's that's not that's not what he's saying. >> So that's in in addition to that. I see. >> You have a second letter. >> Yes. Those are the positions that will be >> you read it. >> Um just one second please. >> So I think I follow him. What he's saying is is that the additional positions which were originally in the budget would be gone as would those positions you have in the letter there. Those are current funded positions that would be lost in the index budget. Correct. So in in addition to I see all right. Uh I'm going to paraphrase part of the letter because I think we get

081the relevant part we can get to with the u the piece in the middle. So, this is uh a letter was directed to the members of the North Haven Board of Finance. It was sent by Mr. Bathick on behalf of the North Haven Board of Ed. I'll just read the piece in the middle if that's okay with the uh people in attendance. After sending the board's initial communication on March 3rd of 2026, additional costs have been identified which impact the 2627 budget. These costs are listed below. required additional increase per the actuaries to the workman's compensation line of $211,000. An additional increase to account for unemployment due to the projected reduction in force $50,000 adjustment to life insurance due to updated estimates from actuaries $15,000. So if I could pause there for a second, these

082are additional costs which have been identified since last Wednesday's meeting to today's meeting. The letter goes on to say, "A reduction of 5.35% while accounting for the $1,400,000 reduction to the medical dental insurance would require a projected elimination of 15 certified positions. And this includes content area coordinators and additional certified staff. The elimination of four non-certified positions and the elimination of the athletic director position. Uh that's the meat of the letter. Um it does go on to talk about the fact that the majority of the proposed increase is driven by contractual salary obligations and as we've talked about quite a bit, the uh significant increases in medical and dental insurance costs. Thank you, Bob. All right. Uh, anything else to the members before we take a brief recess? >> Uh, quarter of still enough or

083you need 10 of >> Let's say 10 of >> 10. >> All right. So, I move that we make a brief recess until 10 minutes to nine. Uh, sorry, that's eight. 10 minutes to eight. >> Second. >> And all those in favor? I. Thank you. Going to reopen the meeting after our caucus. I think what I'll do is uh mention a couple things and then maybe Mike or Nancy would like to uh add. Nancy, I think I'll start out with you had a bunch of cuts >> um on the town side. Um we talked about the bigger ones obviously the treasurer and finance position or department, excuse me. You had some cuts in police. uh some of them are smaller, some of them larger. I I think the consensus amongst um myself and the other

084members on the left to the left view is that um we would suggest a cut of 200,000 uh made up of 50,000 from the personal policy expense line. That was the labor negotiation line that you were talking about. >> Um the police the recruit replace retiree um reduction of 50,000 there. uh the new position, the traffic camera review, a reduction of 50. And then although we didn't talk about it, we're going to suggest a cut of $50,000 to OPED for a total of $200,000 in operating cuts on the town side. If I could just move to the board of ed for a second, >> Mr. Chairman, that's a second cut then to OPED because we had one in the original declinations. >> Yes, it is. >> Okay. Just wanted to clarify. >> I'm just going

085to repeat I think what was said earlier, but I just want to make sure everyone fully understands. So the the cut to the medical expense, not the cut, sorry, the reduction in the um expected cost of medical expense for the board of ed for next year, uh which was $1.4 4 million will be reallocated uh by the board of ed uh to save approximately uh 14 positions which at least as of last Wednesday would have potentially been cut. So that reduction uh will meaningfully save a number of jobs. Um we've heard the members talk. We've heard the residents here. who spoke uh along a passion last Wednesday about the board of ed uh and I think we've been talking about a 5.35% overall number um the suggestion is to um restore approximately $700,000 uh to

086get the board of to 6.35%. They of course will have the discretion to spend those dollars as they see best, but based on uh the conversation so far, my guess is they will use those dollars to uh further reduce the need to eliminate some staff. Uh so that is the proposal, but Mike Nancy, please uh feel free to speak. Yeah. Although the the uh the 700,000 does not uh completely bridge the gap, uh we'll continue to to fight for what we believe is right, um I want to thank uh um the chairman and the other members of this board for uh reconsidering and uh and throwing some additional money uh where it's needed to uh keep u the quality of education in this town alive. Thank you. Do any other members wish to speak before

087we move to a resolution? >> So, just to clarify, you're reducing the board of ed listed expenditures by $1.4 million and still giving them 6.35%. Is that correct? Is that the proposal? I guess the way I would phrase the answers is we're we're suggesting a 6.35% increase over the prior year's budget, >> but it it recognizes that their expenditures will go down by $1.4 million. So effectively, >> their expend their expenditures aren't going down. >> This is just simply a line item that is being >> reduced and reallocated to different areas of the budget. Could I have the dollar amount for the increase? I know you'll get to it eventually with the proposals. >> I'm sorry, Nancy. What was your question, please? >> Could you please give me the dollar amount associated with the 6.35%

088increase to the board of ed budget? >> Yes, I can. >> Thank you. It's about 4.2ish. Are you saying you're adding 600,000 to the 5.35 number >> or $3 3.6 million number? >> Sorry. 4.350 rich roughly is that what you got? >> 4.26. >> 487. >> Sorry. Would you please repeat that for the members, please? >> 4,349,487. >> Thank you. Yeah. >> And you got that number by adding 600,000 to >> about 685,000. >> Ah, okay. So, not 600 685. Got it. >> About that. >> Okay. Right. >> Yeah. All right. So, I think the net here is that there's approximately $2 million between the million4 being reallocated and the increase we just suggested, which will go back into the board of ed to help them restore some of the jobs which are potentially going

089to be lost. Any other questions or comments before I move to a resolution? If not, I'm going to start with the town side. Excuse me. Like to move that the board of finance recommends to the public hearing a fiscal year 2627 town government budget of 72,573,50. I'll need a second, please. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any further discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Like to make another motion. >> Excuse me, Mr. Chairman. Could I please find out what the percentage for that is? I know it's $200,000 less percentage increase that would go on page 39 since we don't have an accurate budget book. >> All right. We'll get Why don't we let Rich and Anger work on that and then we'll get to the next motion. >> Okay. It

090should be a shade less than 5.3 though. >> 5.3. 5.3. >> Still five. Same. >> Previously it was 5. >> It's got to be a couple of decimal points less. >> All right. I'll go to the next resolution. Ingred, if you could work on that in the meantime. >> Was there any ns in that vote? >> I I I offered one nay. >> Were you asking for who moved the motion, Miss Tammy? Yes. >> I move the motion. Who's second, please? >> And then I wanted to know if anyone was against it. >> No, there was no obstension. >> No, no. I I said name. >> Nancy did vote. >> Oh, you did? >> Yeah. >> I'm sorry. >> Got it. Thank you. >> Took me a minute, but I did. >> Okay. >> All

091right. I'd like to move that the board of finance recommends to the public hearing a fiscal year 2627 >> education. >> Can I read it, please? >> What? He's reading it. >> You're reading the last one. >> Can I Can I read it and then you can vote on Is that okay? >> Did you read the second one? >> No, I'm reading it now. >> Okay, >> let's read it. >> Let's do that. Resolve that the board of finance recommends to the public hearing a fiscal year 2627 board of education budget of 72,845,345. May I have a second, please? >> Second. >> Any further discussion? >> All those in favor? I Anyone opposed? >> Opposed. >> I'm opposed. >> But thank you. >> The motion passes. We have two in in opposition. >> Thank you.

092Final resolution that a fiscal year 2026 2027 budget recommendation of 145,418,395 be presented to the public hearing to be held on Monday, April 13th, 2026 with the town government budget to presented first beginning at 7 p.m. followed by the board of education budget to begin no later than 8:00 p.m. with general discussion to follow as warranted. Can I have a second, please? >> Second. >> Any further discussion? >> All those in favor, please respond by saying I. >> I. >> All those opposed? >> Opposed. >> I will oppose. >> Motion passes. There being no further business for the committee, I would accept a motion to adjurnn. Oh, excuse me. My mistake. Public comment. My apologies. Um, as usual, please come to the microphone in front. Please state your name and please give your address. >>

093Thank you. Um, Nancy, to answer your question, I've been told the increase is 5.01% 01% on the town side >> and the board of ed >> 6.35 >> 35. >> Thank you. Go ahead, ma'am. >> Yeah. >> Can I take it down? >> See what happens. >> I feel like I'm at a wedding. Okay. Uh Christy Kaplan, Governor's Drive. Um, I do have a prepared statement and I'm not sure if you can answer a question, but I'm going to ask anyway just for clarity purposes. That $1.4 million that's projected in savings from the insurance reduction, um, we were told was down to 1.1 million, not 1.4. Um, and then potentially that this morning that we heard it was down to 900,000, which is far off the 1.4. So, I'm just wondering if we have an

094accurate number to balance that against. >> The latest information we have is 1.4 million. >> You have the 1.4. Okay. Thank you for that. Um, good evening everyone. Um, and thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. I wanted to begin by acknowledging the difficult position that the board of finance is in. I understand the weight of these decisions and the impact that past tax increases have had on this community. That said, I need to be very clear. I am deeply disappointing in the decision to reduce the board of education's requested budget. There has been repeated narrative that the board of education is responsible for staffing and program cuts that will follow. Respectfully, that is not accurate. The board of education does not control the resources. They respond to them. The financial limits set here

095tonight dictate what is possible and what simply is not. So, let's be honest about what happens next. The misleading statements that were said here tonight about the potential of things added back into the budget, where that may be true if we follow our town charter, has never happened. Um, and it's going to be exponentially more important that everybody in this town, whether you support the education side or not, that you use your voices on that April 13th meeting. Um, because of that, because we get told this is part of the process and it's the process. But in the past 25 years I've tracked, they've never added anything back in for clarity purposes. Um, the loss of positions, the increased class sizes, and the cuts to programs, athletics, and student opportunities are not abstract consequences. They're

096a direct result of the decision made here tonight. And just as importantly, the residents of this town are being denied the opportunity to vote on a fully funded budget. They are not being given a real choice about the level of investment in their schools, their public safety services, or their community. Especially when the town side of the budget saw very minimal reductions and almost no cuts to existing programs and services. We cannot claim to prioritize students, educators, and our first responders while making decisions that undercut their ability to do their jobs and to serve this community. Our educators and our first responders deserve better. Our students deserve better. And our community deserves the opportunity to decide that for themselves. To the taxpayers and the residents tonight or watching at home, your voice is now crucial

097and critical. I urge you to attend the town meeting on April 13th. Come informed, ask questions, and speak during public comment. That is your final opportunity to influence this budget before it is finalized. Because at the end of the day, the impacts of this this decision will not be felt in this room. They will be felt in our classrooms, in our schools, and across the community of North Haven. And those impacts will be remembered. Thank you. Hi, Subeni Basset Road. I'm not here to speak on the board of ed or their increases or decreases or anything else. I'm here on the town. Now, I've been at many meetings where I've heard that the fire chief must ask for these four firemen. And as if he hasn't, and now today, we finally are told yes, he

098has. I don't know why anyone in this room thinks that electives in a school system are more important than the safety of every single resident here. Every fireman and policeman in this town has to not only respond to the town things that happen, but when it happens on our highways and there's this death on a highway, they block off the road. You're using a fire engine to do that. I don't understand why everybody's so worried about the electives in a school system as opposed to the safety of every resident. I'm going to tell you when the fire happens at my house, damn it, I want the firemen there. And if I happen to be in accident and I need the jaws of life, I want the firemen there. I don't want to know that we

099didn't fund our fire department properly. We have lost so many volunteers in this town. Wait, but I think they said the headcount was eight volunteer firemen. Well, guess what? Replace them with the professionals that we need. $400,000 for four volunteer for four professional firemen. Shame on us. Why don't we put our town first? Thank you, ma'am. Can someone adjust the mic for this young lady, please? Gemma Samson, Pine River Road. >> Audrey Salano, Fairy Glenn Drive. >> We would like you to fund the board of education so that the Creative Learning Program, CLP, can stay a part of North Haven schools. We feel this would benefit us because CLP gives students who need extra challenges a challenge and CL helps students become closer. CLP is like a brain sport to us and it is the

100highlight of our day. States for FPS, one of the programs is the best day of the year along with competitions for math league and word masters. It is very important to us and we don't want to lose this magical program. CLP also makes memories between parents and students that have both done or not done CL. >> In conclusion, we urge you to keep CLP in the budget. >> Thank you. I'm sure like I did a lot of the members of course uh read the letters which we've gotten of which I did say earlier were numerous but uh especially within the last couple days we had a lot of uh letters in support of the creative learning program. Good evening, Joe Solomini, Jennifer Drive. Many of you on the board know me. I want to make

101it clear I'm here as a member of the town. I'm not speaking in any capacity as a board of education member. I am disappointed in what has happened here tonight. I feel as though the decision was made by everyone on this board before you came into this room and you put on a nice show and you put on a nice presentation for everybody but there was not a good faith basis for the cuts that have been made to public safety to the fire to the police department when you have professionals who are coming before you and saying apparatus is needed professionals are needed and we're disregarding their professional judgement. I think that's dangerous precedent to set. When you have people who live and breathe education and they're coming to you and saying there's not any

102fat in this budget, we need this to maintain jobs. The district has done a lot of work to get recognized and to improve scores. And then we're going to say we're discounting the advice and the um information provided to us by the professionals that live and breathe education. And there are real world costs here with people losing their jobs because of the decisions that are made. I think that's irresponsible. I think it is the duty of everyone on that board to put it forward and let the people in the town decide whether or not the mill rate should go up, whether or not they can or they cannot absorb a tax increase. And whatever happens from that vote, then people have to adjust accordingly. But I do not think I think it was arbitrary. I

103think it was capriccious. And I do not think that this was done properly or in good faith or that justifies anything that people in this town are now going to have to deal with and potentially have public safety problems, public safety emergencies that are not properly dealt with and a school system that as we at least in my opinion strong school and I don't think many people would disagree has an impact on property value and property taxes. We're jeopardizing all the hard work that's been done over years and years over a couple of mill rate that we haven't even let people decide if they want to absorb or not. Thank you for your time. Excuse me. If you would just hold for one second. The town charter put this board in place for a reason.

104is not to just take the requests that coming from the department heads and and just release them back to the town residents to decide. Um regardless of whether or not Mr. Solomony thought the decisions here were arbitrary the role of the board here is to do what you just saw. We've been through endless workshops. We've been at home looking these numbers over. You've seen the members who've done some of their own spreadsheets. You can tell by the comments that been made by the board, they understand the impact of this. And as I I've said numerous times, we're in favor of fire. We're in favor of the board of ed. We're in favor of public works. But our role here is to try and come to a number that can balance the support for the entire

105town. And truthfully, sometimes that means that the fire department needs more this year than than the board of ed. Maybe the board of ed needs more than than public works. Um but I think that's part of our role here. Um I think it was said last year that you know the uh I'm sorry I forget what department it was but that the um there was a department that submitted the budget and it came into this board less and my comment was that was that it was a town budget was that Mr. Freda runs the town and any organization when a department head brings you a budget you have to get it past your boss in this case the first selectman of the town and you need to get it past this board. So I do

106think we do our job. I think the members of this board work hard at it and I do think part of our role is to come to a meaningful number that all the residents of the town can support. Thank you and please go ahead. >> Jackie Jordano Beverly Drive. I am the parent of three children in our school system and for a variety of reasons, none the fault of our teachers or students. There is a larger than usual education budget request required to keep current levels of programs and staff. I support the full allocation required to maintain our present level of education services. Maintain is the key word here. The suggested cuts to staff and programs will have a devastating effect on the quality of education for our students. Our children deserve better. Just as

107our community has provided for the educational needs of past generations of families, we need to provide adequate funding for today's children. While I would love to see our schools improve improve the quality of education and be able to compete with the best schools in the state, I realize that we find ourselves yet again asking to maintain the status quo. Please allow the citizens of North Haven to decide whether we want to maintain or cut our school system, especially if we don't have a choice to make it better at this time. I support restoring the 995 request to let the taxpayers decide whether or not they want to support our children and education system or not. Then we will know what really matters to the town, not just several people sitting on the stage. Hi, my

108name is Orion Samson of Pine River Road. I'm the proud father of one of those two children that came up here a little while ago. And I just wanted to voice my opinion as well that the uh board of education funding should be at the full ask because it's an investment in our future and it helps maintain our town and the future draw of future residents and the success of our uh education system and children. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> Good evening. My name is Peter Cruscola. I live at 54 Fieldstone Court. Gentlemen, ladies, I have a quick presentation. It won't take long, but I heard the word contingent. We're going to put firefighters on contingent upon the state funding. >> I got it. I got a contingent upon state funding. Okay, that's

109not good enough. People's lives depend on the fire department. Okay, this is a little chart that I made. 10 years ago, we had 105 volunteers. 105. Last month, we had 15. We're down to 11. We have 10 men on a shift. 10 years ago, 11 minutes, we had 40 firefighters show up on a scene. Fast forward today, we have 12. How safe do you feel? All that yellow is what we had 10 years ago. Now, we only have that bottom row. We have no money. is 400 less than 400,000 for four firefighters. Less than 400,000. We're up 57 million in revenue. So where's that money? That's chart number one. Let me show you chart number two. This is our town. Okay. The red represents I 91. The purple is Route 15. The brown is Route

11010. We have the green which represents Quinnipak River. total. If you take the mileage, the lane mileage from those three highways, it's a round trip to New York. That's how much we cover. And every time there's an incident on the highway, we have to dispatch a minimum a minimum of two pieces of fire apparatus. Most of the times three to block the highway. That means there's no one left in headquarters. Zero. You have that zero. Okay. This is the railroad. We have approximately eight 15 miles of railroad. Plus, we have the railroad yard. Those beautiful silver containers you see in the railroad yard, they look pretty. They're full of liquid propane and che and chemicals, hazardous chemicals. And the little red socks that you see floating around in the air, they're not for helicopters to

111land. They're to show our firefighters which direction the wind is blowing for chemical leaks. Okay? That's what they do. That's what our firefighters do 24/7, 7 days a week. We do not have enough firefighters now. We cover 18 18 gas stations in town. And they talk about the yard down here, the railroad yard. Not much problem with railroad. In 10 years, they had 160 derailments, $9 billion in losses. I think that's a lot of losses. So, there's some accident somewhere. We need more firefighters. We have two houses. One here, the main house, and here's Monoise. The other two, one's here and one's here northeast. They are closed all day, ladies and gentlemen. They are closed. So, if you have a fire or a medical emergency, there's no one there to answer, okay? They're not there.

112They come on at night. We're losing volunteers. And that's a nationwide problem, not just North Haven. They're getting burnt out. Our firefighters 10 on a shift. They're getting burned out. Some of them are working three overtime shifts a week to keep up the pace. It's not fair. It's not fair to them. It's not fair to you, the taxpayer. It's dangerous. It's dangerous. And not just again for you people. It's dangerous for my firefighters because they're getting fatigued. They're overworked. They're overworked. They're getting fatigued. It's not good. That's why we have a chief. If, no disrespect, if the board feels they could run the fire department better than the chief, then they should take over the fire department. He needs four firefighters a minimum. That will give us that will give us a minimum of one

113extra firefighter per shift if that's what he thinks works better. Or it'll give us one extra piece of apparatus every four days with a contingency of four firefighters on it. Or it'll give us two rescues every other day, one every other day to add to the force with two firefighters on it. And just for the record, we go out, NFPA says four firefighters per unit. We go out with three. We're underst staffed right now. We're underst staffed. We go out with less than we're supposed to. And NFPA has a regulation 1710, which means in 10 minutes there should be 17 firefighters responding. We don't have that. We have 10. So we're behind. Everywhere you look nationally, we are behind. We need to put a minimum of four firefighters on for $400,000. We're gambling people's lives,

114not to mention our firefighters lives. 400,000. It's not a big number. We found 400,000 last week when we were redoing town hall. It was an $800,000 budget. There was a few things left out. Now it's 1.2 million. You found $400,000 to rebuild the building. We need that help. We need firefighters and we need them now. and I support the board of ed a thousand% and I hope they come out and support our firefighters a thousand%. Thank you very much. Uh Ziv Ziv Quinzel Potter Road. Um tonight what I heard from this board was that they do not care about our lives and they do not care about our children. The way you voted tonight shows me that you don't care about the future of North Haven or the safety of North Haven. And I am

115disappointed in all of you. You were elected into these positions to s to represent us. And that is not what I saw tonight. From what you have heard from everyone who has spoken from before me and what you will hear from everyone who speaks after me is you are not representing what we want or need in North Haven. I am disappointed and I am upset because that means that our children's lives, our lives, our firefighters lives and our children's education is suffering because you guys did not agree to let us vote the way we were supposed to in a democratic town. This is a dem democracy, not a republic. This was a Republican budget through and through. And not once did you take into account anything that Mike Callahan said tonight. It was disrespectful. Thank

116you. >> Alex Johnson Fallon Drive. I have some questions. Mr. Freda, what form of town government do we have? >> It's a town meeting form of government. >> Who holds the power in that form of government? Say again. >> Who holds the power in that form of government >> through a referendum? The people. >> Thank you. So the people decide even though Mr. Boardman Tim said that you were the boss and that you the board made that decision yet you have Mr. Freda constantly been proud that we still have not a council mayor form of government but a town hall form of government. We the people are the ones that are in charge. Other question, how much money would it save us if we cut all um concerts off the green? >> $65,000. >> How

117much money would it save us if we cut all leaf pickup? a half a million dollars. >> How much money would it save us if we cut all trash pickup, including the new trash cans we just bonded for? >> We didn't bond for trash cans. >> Okay, but the new >> Hold on. You're mistaken about that. >> Okay. >> Not pass. And there's no movement to restore that. >> Okay, apologies. But if we required residents to pay for their own trash pickup, how much would that save in this budget? So, you have to understand, Alex, that the mill rate already includes trash being picked up. So, what you're proposing here is an additional tax to have the people pick up trash. >> I'm not saying an additional tax. I'm saying that we cut services. I

118am saying that as much as I don't want that, if we continue to attack fire and we continue to attack education and to continue to act like there are not places to cut that would save 15 teachers, sorry, 14 teacher positions, which I would like to comment on the fact on who's going to pay the taxes if they don't have their jobs. There are places to cut. We keep telling you what we want. We keep telling you that you represent us and you're not listening. And on top of the fact I have a mom, forgive me for giving away your age. A 74 year old father and a 75-year-old mother who I want to move away from this town because I'm afraid they're going to burn if I move away and no longer live with

119them. I would like my own life. I don't want to live with my parents forever, but I also don't want to have to worry about having to live with them to make sure that I'm the one that pulls them out in case of a fire. These people are telling you what they want and you're still choosing otherwise. Listen. Your job is not to choose. Your job is to listen. It is a very basic skill that all of these teachers teach every day. And maybe that is proof that we need more because then we would be listening better. It is not a hard thing to do. And I would like to remind, yes, I may be a Democrat, but for all the Republicans in town that support fire and support education, remember this meeting when elections

120come around because maybe it's time that some people come off the board because they're not listening. They're not. Enough is enough. And also, I have a final question. When was the last time after a meeting such as this when we went into what you call the process these next two meetings has the budget ever changed? >> Alex, um I think you are here and realize that we we just in effect restored $2 million to the to the board of ed budget. I'd also like to point out that the board of ed has 30 additional full-time employees if you compare their current employment today to two years ago. So, there are some cuts that would probably happen given what we just heard and what happened here. But net net, the board of ed is going to

121be up 20 23 positions over a two-year period. >> And we have more students coming every year. >> Yeah. about. No, actually that's not true. If you look back over the last 10 years, the student population in this town does go up and does go down. Uh some years is up, some years is down. Um in relation to two years ago, the student population is up about 60 students. >> But my question still stands in these next coming meetings that you say are part of the process, when was the last time that the comments resulted in a change of the budget proposal? I don't know that I could answer that, but I I would say that generally speaking, it doesn't go up if that's what you're asking me. >> Thank you. That is my point.

122That is what everyone is trying to tell you here. You say it's part of the process. You say we can come and speak at the next two meetings, but all of us feel like it's fruitless because it never changes. >> I think I think one of the things that we have to keep in mind is that we've had great turnouts for these meetings. Don't get me wrong. We had I I had a guess, but maybe 200 people at least last week, right? There's 100 150 here, maybe. >> There's 18,000 voters in town, Alex. And believe me, this board listens to people that come up and and and the members of the public come up very passionately in regards to the board red. But I can tell you what, it's not lost on the six people

123here or Lori Gene, who unfortunately is not able to make it this evening, that seniors don't come out to meetings like this. Not in the numbers that parents do. And we're all were parents, too. My kids went to the school system here. Uh there's teachers in my family too, >> but let them vote. Okay. But our job is to balance the needs of the entire town. And we can have a disagreement and we do by the way because a lot of people have come up saying that we should restore 11%. I don't believe that. Obviously, I believe in 6.35 cuz I just voted for it. So that's just the natural give and take of a a process like this. You asked if this is a democracy. Okay. You ask what Mike's role is. It is

124a town uh meeting form of government, but he is still the executive of this town. Okay? And this town runs on boards and commissions just like a lot of other towns with the exact same form of government do. And it's that way for a reason. But my point again is if the seniors want things, if people want things and they are all out here telling you they want these things, then let them vote and make that decision. Let the seniors come out and vote no. Let people who are board of ed come out and vote yes. It is the vote that matters. And I don't mean this and it's going to come off very Brently and I don't mean it in a disrespectful manner, but it is not your opinion. It is the people's opinion

125in this room that should make that decision. >> I think everyone's opinion counts, Alex. Okay. But the process that the town charter puts together is the one that you're engaging in right now. And as I mentioned earlier, our job is to weigh all the merits of everyone's increase and come to some understanding, which we just did, and then let the voters vote on that. And sometimes, as you know, including the last couple years, the voters say no. But I also am hearing everyone behind me agreeing with me, saying that we should be allowed to vote either way. Either way, let us vote. We elected you. we are asking you to represent us and to let us know. >> What I'm saying is there's no role to this board and that all we should do is

126put on a piece of paper and vote whatever the town departments come up with and that's not the role of this board. I am saying that when you have this much support coming out to tell you that they want fire, that they want education and it is shown over and over again, but then you are also concerned about the other opinion otherwise than to listen to what is being said and being listened to what the louder voice in the opinion is, but to also allow those who might have feel otherwise to vote it down. >> I I hear you. I we have a disagreement. Um, if you wouldn't mind, there's some other people who'd like to speak. >> That's fine. >> Mary White Summerlane, what does the 145,418,395, what does that translate for a mill

127rate increase recommendation? Just give us one second, please. Mary, >> it was It's got to be more than 145, right? >> No. >> 1.93 >> increase >> 1.93. >> Yes. >> Okay. Four years, no new firefighters. How can this board say you support public safety and the fire department and not fund any additional firefighters now for the fourth year? How can you say you support the fire department and a safer grant but not put four firefighters in the employment table contingent on getting a safer grant? The chief has is has stated that the chief cannot apply for a safer grant without those four firefighters in the employment table. Therefore, the chief's hands are tied and the chief cannot apply for the safer grant. So, why were the four firefighters not put in the employment table

128contingent on a safer grant? So the reasons I heard were we don't know the phase in process percentage. We don't know if it's 33 and a3 over third over 3 years. We don't know if it's 25% over four years. So you do know it's one or the other. You don't know the cost. Well, you removed $355,292 for the for four new firefighters. So, you do know the cost. Let's see. Okay. What else? We were told, well, we need letters from the community to show the people in DC that we support safe the safer grant and four new firefighters. I am sure if we asked the people in this room and the people in the community who most have said we support public safety and we support the fire department. If you ask them to write

129letters or send emails, I am sure they would do that, right? Okay. And so obviously I am extremely disappointed that we are not adding any new firefighters in the budget and we have the total budget again 145,418,395 and we can't find $355,292 the cost of four new firefighters. I don't know. something doesn't seem right to me because I think above all public safety matters most. >> Just one second, please. Ma'am Mary, I I aired a moment ago. Uh the projected increase to mill rate is 1.62 mills. >> I'm sorry, I didn't hear that. >> I said I aired a moment ago when I gave you the estimated increase in mill rate. The estimated increase in mill rate is 1.62 mills. 1.62 mills. Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Hello, Alice Gabriel Renee Lane.

130I actually did sort of the same thing last year, so I'm just going to read the same comment that I made last year. I attend North Haven High School and my brother attends North Haven Middle School, so I'm one of the people who will be affected if the budget does not pass. I know some of the teachers that could lose their jobs. And that is why it is my opinion that it to not approve this budget would be depriving this town's kids a good education. Also, I know what some of the programs can do for kids and I know how good some of the teachers are and I do not think that it is fair to get rid of opportunities for people like me who are affected by this budget. >> Thank you. >> Uh

131Amanda Gabriel Renee Lane. It's not a public meeting without multiple Gabriel comments, I guess. Um, so I just wanted to talk about a couple things. Mr. Dahin, do you know of the positions that were added on the board of education side? Do you know what those people do? >> Uh, outside of the letter? No, I don't know what they do. >> Uh, largely special education. And do you know what happens when we hire special education teachers in district as opposed to outsourcing? >> Save money. >> Uh, no. >> We save a lot of money, a lot of money by bringing things in house. Things like our RISE program at Clintonville. Um, we COVID funds have been discussed ad nauseium up here at times and I would like to note that most of those funds were

132also spent on special education teachers who end up a net savings to the taxpayer. It's a better experience for our kiddos who get to stay in district, too. It truly is the definition of a win-win. It's not the entirety of the funds, but it's a good chunk of them, and it was a good decision for the town and for our schools. Also, I'd like to just talk a little bit about um you know, uh leaf pickup, bulk pickup, and concerts on the green were were spoken about as like nice to have things on the town side. I enjoy them as a resident here. I like having them, but they are technically nice to haves. And when we're cutting the jobs and the livelihoods of folks on the board of education side, it hurts a little

133bit to see that that that wasn't even discussed. Um, and let's talk about the last several years of increases on the town government side because of the last 10 years, six or seven of them have been over 5% depending on if you're using including capital and contingency or not including capital and contingency. The average for the town over the last 10 years, not including this year, is 5.34% increases. The average for the board of education is 3.39. The town has outpaced inflation uh over a 10-year period by 13%. The board of education has underpaced inflation inflation by about 1.5% over 10 years. So, I understand that you have a tough job. I've got a tough job, too. Uh it's not fun when people come out in large numbers and give you opinions that you may

134or may not agree with. I've been on the receiving end of it many times. But I am really disappointed that four people made a decision tonight for an entire town. Excuse me, just one minute, please. Ma'am, >> I'll just point out what Mike has pointed out many, many times in the past that not disputing Amanda's numbers. I haven't confirmed them, but you know, Mike has said many, many times that when we compare the two budgets, you have to remember that the building we're sitting in, the middle school, which was what, $70 million, something like that. Um, that's all sitting on the town side. Um, so the cost of those buildings and the debt service that that we've incurred to build these facilities sits on the town side. Yes, we've built fire departments. We've built police

135departments and they are also on the town side, but those buildings are in the town side budget. >> Every town in Connecticut has the same process for financing their debt service. So, we are not unique in this. We have about 60% of our debt service towards the board of education, about 40% towards the town. That's actually lower than most of the districts in our district reference group which have about 80% of their debt service being served for the school district and not the town. So just so we know like I get it that is that is true very true but the board of ed is not allowed to take out a mortgage and the town is >> my point obviously Manda is that it distorts those percents that you gave us earlier. >> It doesn't

136actually distort the percentages because there is also townside growth in there. So we can look at it that way. Another uh common percentage that we look at is the proportion of total funding that towns spend on their boards of education. And North Haven is in the bottom 15 percentile every year. Uh Genevie Cabrera, George Street. I am up here tonight not as a board of education member but as a parent and a taxpaying member of this community. I just want to express my disappointment to those with the recommendation to further cut the board of education budget tonight before the entire community has had a meaningful opportunity to weigh in. People came out here now for the second time and are feeling ignored by their elected officials. people got sitters, took time out of their day

137to write letters, and I feel that they should have had time to make public comment again ahead of any of these major decisions. I also believe I also believe that decisions of this magnitude should not be made in advance of a referendum vote, nor should such significant reductions be proposed without first engaging the full community. It has been suggested that these cuts already reflect what the community wants, but how could we confidently make that claim without giving all residents the opportunity to vote on it? A budget of this importance deserves transparency, thoughtful discussion, and most importantly, input from the entire community, especially since a cut to this degree will result in such large job loss. The fair and appropriate course of action is to send the board of education budget forward as originally proposed by

138the board of ed and allow the community through a townwide vote to determine whether it reflects their priorities or not. We owe it to all our taxpayers to ensure that their voices are heard before these decisions are made and tonight we were dismissed and ignored by the majority of this board. As Chris has said earlier, though it is possible to change its decision after today's meeting, it has never happened or at least not in our memory. I hope that this is the first year it does. Good evening, Mr. Chairman. Sally Buy, five Blossom Drive. Um, I served on the board of finance for four years. Uh many years ago, these same issues were then as they are now. Um and I served 12 years on the board of selectmen. I heard Mr. Freda say countless

139times very accurately, it is the purpose of the board of finance to weigh in and determine the difference between what the town wants and what it can afford. And that is why our town charter sets up a board of finance to represent all of the town, not any specific interest group, but the entire town to decide what is in the best interest of that entire town. And that is the board of finances duty. We can never just present department head budget requests in a referendum. That is not an effective process as spelled out in our charter. I believe that the five what is it now 5.3 million or 5.2 million additional money for the board of ed 5.2 million I don't want to talk percentages I want to talk dollars it's it's 5.2 >> 4

140what is the amount >> 4.3 >> 4.2 >> 4.3 >> 4.2 into is is a fair and reasonable additional increase. Um I would like to speak on behalf of senior citizens of which I am one that four significant tax increases in a row is too much for the senior citizens and others on disabled people on fixed incomes to endure. I went door todo in the last campaign and to maybe 3,000 houses and I heard and perhaps other candidates have her heard when they went door todo that people were really struggling from that last tax increase. Mr. Halahan wondered. He said, "Well, there's only pro-education forces here tonight." That's because this budget hasn't been publicized in the newspapers at all yet. only the education advocates have been receiving countless social media s uh demands that they

141show up and speak on behalf of education. And I appreciate that you're all here. You're here because you care and that's a great thing. But you you know what's going on with the board of ed budget. wait until the rest of the town, the other 18,000 people find out that this is going to be another mill rate increase, a significant one at that at 1.62. I can remember when a third of a mill was considered a large mill rate increase, and I'm sure some of you on this board know that. So, the town doesn't the the vast majority of people don't know yet what is going on with this budget. And I could tell you for sure during the 12 years that I served on the board of selectmen that the budget did change. And

142I will check my records. I have a room full of records that the budget did change from the April public hearing to the budget town meeting at least twice. And it was primarily because of um newfound um updated information on revenue sources. But changes have been made and can be made and the process is built so that they can be made. And I just want to give uh the history the last six years of the board of ed budget. They get an increase every year. I would never advocate to flat fund the board of education. The town of Shelton is considering doing that right now. No. The board of ed needs new money, more money every year. There's no question about it. During my the 12 years on the board of selectmen, the budget, the

143board of ed budget when I started was 44 million. When I left, it was 68 million. That is a 50% increase in the board of education. the um enrollment in when I started on the board of selectment 12 years ago was 3,635. It is now what about 3,100. >> Um but every year the board of ed needs more money. There's no question about it. So let's look at the res the end results of the last six years. Every year they say this is bare bones. We can't spare another dollar. 1920 fiscal year 2019 2020 a fi an $856,000 surplus 2020. And I have reports from the board of ed over in a pile over there if anyone wants to see them. Board of ed reports that document these surpluses. They don't call them surpluses. They

144call them unexpended funds, which they then put into a non-lapsing account, which is perfectly legal, perfectly fine. It's kind of like a savings account for them. They put that in there for future expenses that they spend at at their will. So, okay, 1920 fiscal year, $856,000 surplus. 2021 fiscal year 1,7,355,000 underexpended, also known as a surplus. 695,915,000 underexpended according to their reports. 2223 $441,035 underexpended surplus 2324 fiscal year 316,629 underexpended what I call a surplus and this is the most interesting one of all the last completed fiscal year which is 2425 our current year isn't completed yet that will be done on June 30th but the last completed fiscal year of 2425, they had a surplus. They were able to put 291,263 according to their reports into their non-lapsing fund. And the reason why 2425

145is so critical is because that was the year that the budget was defeated at referendum in 2024. And as a result of that defeat, the board of finance cut $950,000 from their budget. They still got an increase of about 2.3 million uh 2.3 million, but as a result of the defeated budget, everybody went ballistic when the board of finance took $950,000 from their budget. And I repeat, they had a $291,263 unexpended surplus that they put into their savings account, otherwise known as the non-lapsing account, which is a good thing because they need that there for capital improvements and other things that they need. So to say that everything is barebones bottom line it's the the year-end reports that I have over there with the board of ed insignia at the top saying all these surpluses

146proves that it's not always bare bones and uh a gentleman earlier said that it was arbitrary and capriccious for the the cuts that the board board of finance made. I believe that the outrageous 11.1% original initial request was equally outrageous and and really clouded my my overall impression of the board of ed from the very beginning of this particular budget process that they had the nerve to start with such an outrageously high percentage. They would have done themselves a much better favor if they followed suit with other area towns that are asking for five and 6% requests and no more than that. So talk about arbit arbitrary and capriccious. That 11.1 was equally arbitrary and capriccious. On behalf of senior citizens, I'm going to be 70 years old this year. I am not in support

147of this budget. It is the fourth significant increase in a row. We need to find further cuts. Thank you very much. >> All right. Thank you, Sally. >> My name is Lucia Rafula. I live on Middletown Avenue and I have two children at the high school. and I'm a taxpayer and I am willing to pay whatever needs to be done to educate my children. When you speak about impact, you speak very globally. You're not looking at the actual effect of your choices and these are choices that you're making. For example, when you choose to defund programs and you choose to get rid of funding, the superintendent has to make decisions. So, he might have to eliminate middle school foreign language. That's one of the ideas that's on the table. By eliminating foreign language, you're denying

148high school students four years down the road to be able to take AP classes because they're going to enter high school having to take year one of whatever language they choose. That makes them less competitive with other towns in our area for scholarships. If business, foreign languages are vital to our world economy. You talk about perhaps eliminating sports at the middle school. At the middle school, sports re encourage our students to develop collaboration skills, communication skills, physical skills. If they if this program's eliminated and you go to high school and that's your first experience with a team sport or an individual sport, you don't have the time to develop those skills because you only have four years. And if you're a family that might need a sports scholarship and your student doesn't have that time

149because you're starting to apply for colleges now, what in your junior and senior years, you're left behind again. You're not competitive with the surrounding towns. When you eliminate programs by reducing staff, you put our students at risk because now we have to have bigger classrooms and maybe that one teacher in that class can't reach all those kids because kids are coming to school with more and more problems. Who's addressing those? Again, our students are the ones that lose. You get rid of talented and gifted programs, those students won't have the experiences they need to become the next genius, the next inventor that might change the world and make it a better place. When you make these changes, the other thing you don't understand is our schools are rated on a point system that creates value

150to your diplomas. When we start losing programs, our diplomas are devalued. So, you're going to have less choices and opportunities. And I know this because when I lived in Hampton, our high school program was a hot mess. And for a year, those diplomas that were awarded to those kids meant nothing. Not for their college opportunities, not for scholarships, nothing. So before you decide what you think parents need for their children, you need to let the parents vote and decide what we want for our children. I think that's only fair and that's what democracy is. Thank you. Hi, Dan O'Brien. Um, I usually am very careful to just talk as town resident and proud father of a North Haven High School graduate, but I'm going to talk as a meeting attendee and as a town resident

151and as a high school teacher and as a father and so forth. Um, my kid who means everything to me. um had her life changed. The whole trajectory of her life was changed by middle school world language instruction. Um she's working towards being a world language teacher herself if she hadn't had the experience. I'm sorry. If she hadn't had the experience she had in seventh and eighth grade Spanish, she wouldn't be where she is. I'd like to thank the students who came up and spoke. They're talking about their present and they're talking about their future. Um, I can speak to you as a father. Um, that the the whole life my child who is now an adult growing into adulthood has experienced was shaped by being inspired by a profoundly gifted seventh and eighth grade

152world language teacher. And so this budget, if it er if it guts, let alone eradicates the middle school world language program will make sure that my child as she is, as gifted and inspired as she is, will not exist. Uh to take a moment to be an English teacher for a second really quickly, uh a guy named Thomas Gray wrote a very famous poem called Elegy in a Country Churchyard. And this one kind of blockbuster line that says that some mute in glorious Milton here may rest. And Milton of course was a very great poet of the 17th century. Uh what that line is talking about is unrealized potential. We never realize unrealized potential. Donald Rumsfeld calls them unknown unknowns as everybody knows from previous wars. Um, we are making a choice that my child

153can't exist. There will be students who will miss opportunities to be educated. And as was very aly said by the previous speaker, when they don't get into languages earlier, they will not only are you cutting out the floor of their experience, but you're cutting the ceiling. My child uh was qualified to take the Yukon course in her 12th grade class. That also would not be possible based on the way that we're cutting world language or other programs to cut jobs. I c I don't know how many jobs now with the fiddling of the numbers is going to be different but I can only imagine the first thing I'm thinking of at the last board of finance meeting is tonight is shuttered classrooms how many classrooms simply will there not be teachers to occupy them let

154alone the programs like gifted and talented CL um world language and so forth that will not become part of a child's experience part of their inspiration part of their part of what they do every day that turns them on not only within that subject but across the subjects. A little more math understanding makes you better at science. A little better understanding of history makes you better with literature and vice versa. When we cut their experience abroad of curriculum, we are cutting out what they can possibly become. And the last thing that I'd like to point out, and I apologize in advance if this is a little bit contentious, but at the last meeting in the high school cafeteria, Chairman Dah in a heated moment about a firetruck said, "We may need it. If we need

155it, put it in the budget so the people in this room and the town's people can vote for it." And by cutting the 9.95, you have kept the people of this town from being able to do the thing that you said that they should be able to do in a town meeting form of government. And I'm very disappointed. And I'm proud of my kid. And I'm really worried for the other parents in here who have children who will never know what they missed. Thank you. Mr. O'Brien, I just want to point out you misinterpreted my comment from last week. >> The board of ed put everything in their budget. Yes, we just made cuts, but it was all there for everyone to see. My comment last week with respect to the fire department was they

156didn't put the two engines in the budget. So the residents of the town when they voted in the budget last year didn't know that we already had ordered two engines that were going to cost over $3 million. That's just simple transparency. So that's the difference between I think what you just said and my point last week. >> Hello James Salzano Fairy Glen Drive, father of the other daughter that spoke. Um, my wife wrote a letter about the creative learning program and what it meant to us when we were in school. Um, so I'm going to leave that alone and let the letter speak for itself. Um, I have a math question. I've been trying frantically to follow along with the numbers. I learned that from my mom, not creative learning. Um, Mrs. Barrett, you had

157said, "I appreciate that you gave the increase in um taxes for a typical North Haven household. I just wanted to clarify and understand the $56 a month that you mentioned as an increase for uh social security um based on the um current percentage. Is that >> The average is that average for a typical North Haven resident or is that national? >> No. No. N. >> National. And is that per person or per household? >> It is the average per person. >> Got it. Thank you. >> Sure. >> Have a good evening. >> Of course. Hi, I apologize. I'm a little under the weather. So, Michelle Guymo, 26 Curtis Court. Um, and I want to say that I'm here as a resident and a parent tonight, not as a board of ed member. I don't speak

158for the board of ed. I first want to address a couple things that I've heard while I've been listening to public comment. One of them is about the 11.14% ask from the board of ed. And while I think that is an extreme number as an educator myself, that's not a typical ask. But I'd like to point out that that original our original budget through our workshops was 5.89%. And at the last minute, we were given news that the actuaries told us we had to increase due to our depleted medical reserves. And that's the only reason that that number went up to 11.14%. And if anyone had come to the board of ed budget workshops, you would have heard all of the board of ed members talking about what are we supposed to do with this?

159You know, this this is extreme. And we go back and forth as a board about we need to ask for what we need. And we knew in that moment that that's what we needed. We had come with a a fairly reasonable number I thought of 5.89% 89% which was then drastically increased because of this information we were given due to the insurance costs. Um I also wanted to speak to the comment about how we have more teachers than we did a few years ago while enrollment has only gone up by 60 students. And I need to point out as an educator myself that our population and needs of our students have changed. So I understand that on just looking at numbers it may seem like it's skewed. We do have more teachers but the needs

160of the students that we're servicing are much higher than what they were in previous years. So it does it it's justified. I also wanted to speak quickly about somebody said social security goes up 2.8%. And that is higher than what teachers are getting for raises. So, um, all at the same time, while our medical costs are increasing drastically, wiping out any benefit that teachers see from a from lower than a 2.8% increase. So, I do I I truly do feel for everyone in this situation because we're all feeling it. Um, give me just a moment here. I was coming here tonight because I wanted to implore the board of finance to accept the recent board of ed budget that was submitted to you which would have been I believe seven I heard people say 8.2

161I thought it was 7.9 in that range. I know it's kind it's in that range somewhere. I know that we're trying to be as mindful as possible about the mill rate. I'm also a resident and a taxpayer. I have kids in our school system. I have a senior who's graduating this year and I have a very hefty college bill coming up in the fall. So, I mean I I and I don't expect anyone to make the same decisions that I'm making. Like, by all means, people want to go on vacations and you know, I'm I'm skipping my vacation. I'm teaching summer school for the first time in eight years. So, I'm making decisions for my own personal budget and everyone has to make those personal decisions for themsel. I calculated the cost of what my

162tax increase would be if you came here tonight and did 7.98 for the board of ed and 5.3 for the town. And for me it was a $25 per month increase. And I'm yes, I'm struggling, but I'm okay with that. Like I'm okay with that so that we can keep our programs and our schools and we can keep our teachers that we have. In fact, I say add the firefighters back and make my increase $27 a month because I think that they should both be funded and I think that the town people should have that choice. Put it forth and let them vote for it. I think that's all I have to say. I'm sorry. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> James Deweiler. one Hemingway Road. Uh thank you tonight. We've heard uh strong opinions

163on both sides of the aisle tonight and uh I served not only as the pastor of Hope Church but also as the chaplain for our North Haven Fire Department. And uh I was checking while I was sitting back there, we have 13 at least 13 churches in North Haven, which represents a very large contingency of our faith population here in North Haven. And I would just like to offer a scripture if I may. The Apostle Paul urged his listeners first of all, and I would challenge our community between now and April 13th with the words of the Apostle Paul that says, "First of all, I urge you that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people, especially for those in authority. ity that we may lead peaceable and quiet lives in all godliness

164and holiness for this is good and pleases God. I would like to challenge our community on both sides of this issue and there are very strong opinions. There are needs that need to be met. But as a faith leader, and I know I speak for many of my pastor friends in the community, that the thing we cherish the most is our unity in town. And we thank God for all of you as well as you. And between now and April 13th, can we make it a commitment to pray at least 30 seconds a day? That God will bless our community leaders that we've elected with wisdom and understanding. And that at the end of the day, we would all walk out of here in unity and in love for one another. God bless you and

165thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Hello, Subeni again. Uh, first of all, I'm at Social Security. You're 2.8% increase the and then the increase went up in their Medicare B, which is their majority of their medical. So, that went up another $17. So, they got $40 out of that increase. Okay. But the average social security check is between 1,500 and 18 and 2,000 a year. And if they're paying the taxes that I'm paying at $9,000 a year from last year's major increase, that doesn't leave a hell of a lot of money to do stuff. I have now been talking to various seniors at the senior center, people who can't afford their food. They're getting it from family members that are bringing it to them. It's terrible. And the people here who mentioned stop

166possibly stopping regular trash pickup. Well, I used to live in Guilford and my parents were paying quite a bit a month for it. So instead of me paying a town $100 a month, I'm going to pay a trash service to come pick up my trash $100 a month. And instead of having the leaf pick up at the street, unfortunately, I can't physically get my leaves from my yard to the street. So, I must pay somebody. I pay the man $450 a year. It's a sin, but I pay it. No, I'm not on social security. I have a very good pension. Unfortunately, I pay full bet full on everything. fully for my medical, fully for my taxes, fully for my oil. But you know what? That's what I have. Unfortunately, I've had to live with physical

167disabilities from me getting that pension. And the other thing was to stop the concerts. Really go down there and you see how many families are there, how many seniors are there. Your senior citizens have been paying year after year for taxes. Just my own taxes have gone up since I retired have gone up over $4.5,000 a year. And I've only been retired for six years. I think it's bad, but you know what? It's what I'm doing right now. But before you start cutting what's left, what would be left for a senior to be paying taxes on? to have my roads plowed. That's why you're gonna leave us. Take away bulk pickup. Take away trash pickup. Take away leaf pickup. Take away concerts. What do I have left? Okay. It's not all about you. It's not

168all about your kids. The seniors in this town are hurting. They really, really are. Okay. I just think everybody should get the whole picture. and I appreciate that you listened to us. The only thing that I had to say was somebody else's because it wasn't just board of ed people that were at the high school. I went there. I spoke. There were three other people that came up after me that spoke on the senior citizens. Please listen to them. The majority of them don't drive at night. They get, you know, so I mean, somebody's got to come to the senior center and talk to them and tell them what's going on. No, I didn't know about this letter to the safety to get money here for the town for the fire department. I didn't know

169about that. But if it was in the paper, I'd know. Or if it was a bulletin to the senior center, I'd know. If the budget issues were a bulletin to the senior center, we'd know. They're not in the know. Some of them watch it on TV because many of them come up to me and say, "Next time say this. Next time say that." I say to them, you say something, you know, I mean, but please stop ditzing our seniors. One day, if you're very fortunate, you get to be one. Uh, Lindsay, sir, Angel Place, I just have a clarifying question for Mike Freda. last meeting you talked about the education cost sharing formula and I know that's sort of gotten momentum at the legislature so I didn't know what that would do for our budget

170if that came through. >> Uh yes, thank you for the question. You know, I spent a lot of time on this at the state level and there's a movement to increase it this year and the formula is roughly $1,000 per student, but North Haven will not qualify for that if we get it because there's a wealth component that most of the money will go to the distressed communities and North Haven is not a distressed community in terms of how it's viewed. So, what that means is that if we do get any money, I'm going to just project it may not be more than 200 or $250,000 a year. >> Thank you. >> Good evening again, Peter Cruscola, 54 Fieldstone Court. Folks, I just left out a couple of things. Uh before we talked about the

171money for four firefighters, just for the record, North Haven's Fire Department per capita is the smallest in the general area. Okay, populationwise square mileage. And the other thing about money, we are the lowest paid fire department. Our firefighters come in at the lowest amount. If they cross over the line to go to Hampton, it's almost a $10,000 a year bump right off the bat. So, we are the lowest. So, don't think that we're making all this money. The firefighters are not. They put their life on the line every day. Like I always said, my guys, women, we have go into buildings that people run out of. They go into burning buildings to save your life. Okay? And now we have a new training facility that they train every day to become more proficient. So we

172have the best volunteers, the few that we have left. And we have the best professional firefighters I think anywhere. So please come out, write letters. It should not fall at the feet of the board of finance to decide whether we get more firefighters. We need them. We have to have them. It's a must. The town is growing every day. Look up and down the street. Look at all the new buildings that are going up. Universal Drive. Now we have another new um hotel. Go up Washington Avenue. You can't go anywhere without finding a new store or a new building. They're putting up new developments on the north end of town. Uh they're putting up new developments on Clintonville Road. Another 100 units. Maybe you saw the new bridge unit that went up on Washington Avenue.

173We have high what are they? four stories high now. So, we cannot cover that. It's physically impossible to cover that. And I know we talked about that we're not going to put another piece of apparatus in the budget because the chief didn't put it in the actual his budget this year. He put it in a five-year plan. Okay. Maybe we could put it going forward and we could start when 2027 when our engine is supposed to come in. Maybe if we put it in this year's budget going forward, we could find the money to get that piece of apparatus. And just for the record, folks, Monday, I'm going to use a number one, two, three. Monday, engine one, our main engine and headquarters was out of service. So, we went to engine two. As we

174left to go on a call, engine two broke down. We went to engine three. We have a rescue truck that was out of service for two days. We were using an engine to go out for paramedic calls. Just so you know that. So, it is a very, very dim picture. Trust me, we're on a slippery slope with safety. So, please come out and protect our firefighters cuz they protect you. Like I always said, you go on a plane, steward tells you, if you're going down, put on your mask first to help the person next to you. If you don't help our firefighters, they can't help you. Thank you again. >> All right, thank you everyone. Tim, when Sally's done comments, >> Sally Buy again, Five Blossom Drive. I just one one moment, one minute, Mr.

175Chairman. I wanted to respond to something that uh Chairman Kriscolas said earlier. He was talking about the um problems with our uh fire apparatus going to um calls on the highways. And of course, we in North Haven have Route 15 and Route 40. and of course 91 and um I agree with him that is a just shockingly that is a tremendous strain on our fire department and he's right we will have two maybe three of our apparatus going to an accident on the highway um and they're there for hours because it it just takes that long. Um, when there's a snowstorm, we have state department of transportation plows 90 plows 91. When there's a car accident, Connecticut state police go to the accident scene. State uh transportation does all the mowing. Why don't we have

176a state fire department and have state vehicles go there and block the traffic and save municipal apparatus from that tremendous strain. It it it adds terribly to our contemporaneous call problem. And um we had the past couple of years two of our fire trucks were hit while they were blocking uh traffic for fire for um car accidents. And so Mr. Freda, I am your constituent and I am going to ask you, you always say you are president of the small uh cities and towns. You're president of Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. Um please, you have all these meetings with the governor. I think it's time for you and our state legislators and the state legislators of every municipality that has interstate highways to advocate for a state fire department and relieve municipalities of this terrible responsibility

177of supplying fire trucks to accidents on interstate highways. I think that would help our fire department a lot. Thank you. >> Thank you, Nancy. >> Nope, that's s Sorry, Sally. Nancy, please go ahead. >> Yeah, thank you. Uh, so I'd just like to make a few concluding comments. Uh, >> oh, there's one more person. I'm terribly sorry. Please. >> I apologize. Go ahead, sir. >> I can see you. >> I'll be very brief. James Salano Fairy Glenn Drive. I went back and thought about um what I had asked before about the social security um increase and I am very sensitive to the cost increases, but I just have to say as someone who doesn't often come to these meetings and I'm trying to follow along with all the numbers and I understand this is a

178working meeting and it's not necessarily for the full public, but it's frustrating to try to follow along with the numbers and then not feel like I'm getting an applesto apples comparison. I understand it could be an $11 a month increase, but the way it was phrased, it's making me compare it to $56 and that's not what it is in North Haven. I still understand it could be it will be a burden for our senior citizens, but just as someone who doesn't come that often, I would just urge urge the board in the future to please try to be as clear as you can with those types of >> Sir, that's that's generally covered during the meeting in two weeks and Mike generally does give those numbers. I understand that but I just feel like once

179I see patterns of presentation of data that type of presentation usually usually continues. That's from my professional experience. Thank you. Have a good night. >> Yeah, I I attempted to address exactly that issue at the uh March 18th issue uh meeting by having a handout so people could understand as I was walking them through lots and lots of numbers. So I I absolutely appreciate what you're saying. >> That's fine. And and that was in Connecticut dollars then, not national dollars on that handout. >> It would have been in North Haven dollars, not the national figures. >> So So the numbers that I was quoting were national numbers, >> right? >> So an average across the nation. >> I understand. But the taxes increase in the town you were giving were on a North Haven tax

180increase. So you need to either give it in like a national tax increase or a North Haven tax increase and a social security payment increase for a typical senior family living in North Haven. So if it's if senior citizens are 1.5 senior citizens per house in North Haven and they get a certain amount of payment, that number would be helpful to do an actual comparison of of the figures. That's >> again that's only a portion of the population of our town on fixed income. I understand. Yes. I just I just I'm big on clarity and numbers and data. Thank you. >> I I completely agree. Thank you. >> Okay. So, ju just a couple of points that I I'd like to make that I think are are really important for people to understand. One of

181the consequences of the revaluation that took place last year was that the value of one mill has gone up really significantly. I mean, we all recognize the impact of the increased mill rate on our tax bills, but as we're trying to formulate a budget and we're trying to trim here and trim there, um, a few years ago, one mill was about $3 million. Currently, one mill is about $4.3 million. So when we're trying to make these reductions to a point that is actually tolerable to people who are living on fixed incomes, it becomes more and more difficult as a result of the reevaluation process. Um, another point that I'd like to make is, uh, again, you you've heard a lot about some of the the board of ed, um, data in terms of their budget,

182but one point that I'd like to make is that uh, the board of ed has in in the years since uh, Mr. Sturk has become uh our superintendent say the last seven years um the board of ed has actually received every penny that they've requested with the exception of just two years. So five out of seven years they received every single penny that was requested and as Miss Bumy pointed out in many of those years they also concluded their year their fiscal year with a surplus. So, I think that that's those are important um pieces of information to keep in mind as to many of the points that were made this evening. Um I also uh as a parent of three children who went to North Haven schools, I absolutely appreciate the value of world

183language programs and um the creative learning program, uh math league, all of those different things. But I must say that um the board of education does not actually receive input from the public about how their $70 million budget should be spent. And this board of finance does not in fact make cuts to programs. Um I don't think that the board of education or the superintendent received any input on the termination of the um integrated day program or last year the summer uh summer school program uh for the high school. So, if in fact there need to be reductions to the board of ed budget, perhaps the public should weigh in on where you think some of those reductions should take place. And so, if you have, you know, if you value one program over another,

184then weigh in on that as well. Um, but I I think it's it's not necessarily accurate to say that we, the members of this board, cut programs. And one last point that I'd like to make is the members of this board of finance not only have to make the tough decisions about what to fund, but we are also responsible for finding ways to actually pay for those expenditures. So, I'd like to make a recommendation to the board of ed based upon something that I simply stumbled across on uh North Haven television, which provides uh recorded uh meetings on online. And back in August of 2022, uh the then uh finance director Howard Warlow pointed out that in 2223 the board of education was facing a $600,000 uh shortfall. And so in order to minimize the

185shortfall in 2223, the board of ed actually transferred $420,000 in 2122 to bolster those reserves. In addition to that transfer, they also transferred $200,000 into capital projects funds. And despite those, you know, $620,000 transfers, they still managed to end that year with a very modest surplus. Now, I'm making this suggestion because this is exactly what we do on the town side, or at least did for many years with our general fund transfers. We made a a transfer from our general fund to bolster the town side of the budget. And that is exactly what I'm suggesting that the board of education does this year. If you get to the end of the year and you find that you have some extra money, perhaps that could be transferred into the medical and dental fund for the next

186year for the reserves in order to ensure that you have a basis to build upon in the next year. So just a suggestion. >> Are you asking me to take money out of the capital for this year? on something. I I'm trying to understand. >> I I'm asking that you do exactly what you did in August of or actually in the end of 2122. >> All right. If I could let let's >> exactly the same thing. >> Let's just stick Let's excuse me. Let's just stick with the budget for next year, which is what we're here to discuss. Okay. >> But currently, the board of education budget is on track. >> It's frozen. >> It's it's on track. It's at at the end end of February it was at about 68%. even with $6 million

187in incumbrances. >> Okay. >> Well, why don't we let's see where the board of ed lands before we make suggestions on what they might do. >> All right. Appreciate everyone coming out. I know it's been a long night. The board is listening. We appreciate your input and thank you so much. >> Motion to adjurnn. Please >> make the motion. >> Second. >> We have a first. We have a second. All in favor? I >> I >> Thank you. The preceding program is brought to you in part through a grant from the town of North Haven. Watch town meetings or other videos on demand at nhtv.com.