No Cuts At First RTM Budget Review

started with some strong words, but ultimately ended with no action, as the group approved every budget it reviewed as it was presented.

The meeting started with a senior citizen from the public asking for the town's $78.8 million proposed budget for next year to be cut. She said she and many others live on a fixed income and the budget, , is too large of an increase.

Then RTM Member Theodore Olynciw spoke as a member of the public, saying the budget was “an insult to each and every resident and taxpayer to the town of Waterford.” Olynciw said his own personal property taxes have increased 161 percent in the past ten years, and said First Selectman Dan Steward, Board of Finance Director Ron Fedor and the Board of Education were to blame for high costs.

Then the RTM reviewed 15 municipal budgets, with RTM member Janet Smith proposing the only reduction, a $2,500 cut to the Public Works Department’s budget. That cut was rejected by the RTM, with only four of the group’s 22 members voting for it.

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All other budgets were unanimously approved as they were presented with no cuts proposed.

After the meeting, Patch asked Olynciw why he came out so strong against the budget at the beginning of the meeting and then proposed no cuts. Olynciw said most of his points were directed toward the Board of Education, and he would likely propose a cut to their l Wednesday.

Background

In April, the Board of Finance finalized a $78.8 million budget, , which was sent to the RTM. Monday night was the first of three consecutive nights of the RTM’s budget hearings where the group will review and finalize the town’s budget for the 2012-13 Fiscal Year.

The RTM can only cut the proposal it has been given by the Board of Finance, it cannot add to any department’s total. Monday night the RTM approved the budgets for Social Service Grants, Registrars of Voters, Public Health Nursing, Conservation of Health, Flood & Erosion Control Board, Harbor Management Commission, Ethics Commission, Board of Assessment Appeals, Assessor, Tax Collector, Public Works, Utility Commission, Board of Police Commissioners and Emergency Management.