RTM Cuts $2,350 From Proposed Waterford Fire Services Budget

Half of Waterford’s Representative Town Meeting’s budget hearings are over, and so far the group has cut $2,600 from a budget proposal that would increase spending by $3 million next year.

The group was handed an $81.8 million budget proposal for the 2013-14 fiscal year, a 3.86 percent increase over this year’s $78.8 million total. The RTM has and will review the budget in four budget hearings over seven days, with the group finalizing the town’s spending plan this upcoming Monday.

On Monday, the group heard 15 department budgets and cut $250 from the emergency management’s spending plan, with the remaining 14 approved as proposed. Tuesday, the group approved 11 of the 12 department budgets it reviewed as proposed, with it cutting $2,350 from the fire department’s proposal.

The fire department is still proposing to spend $2.7 million next year, or $95,000 more than this year’s $2.6 million total. The vast majority of the increase is from increased fire hydrant maintenance fees, a fee controlled by the City of New London, according to Waterford Fire Administrator Bruce Miller.

The RTM will meet again on Wednesday and then meet to finalize the budget on Monday. Both meetings are at 7:30 p.m. in town hall auditorium. There is time for public comment at the beginning of the meeting, but so far no member of the public has spoke.