Willimantic budget plan is finalized
Apr. 13—WILLIMANTIC — Board members approved the proposed 2022- 23 Willimantic Taxing District budget, which entails a reduction in taxes, following a quiet public hearing Tuesday night.
The budget is $12,174,672, a $567,388, or 4.9 percent, increase from the current budget.
It was approved by a vote of 4-0.
Tax district members did not make any changes to the budget proposed by Windham Town Manager Jim Rivers.
While there is an increase in the budget, the proposed mill rate decreased due to several revenue increases.
" It's a very favorable year for taxpayers," Rivers said. " We've had some rough years here."
There was a 4 percent increase in the 2021 Grand List as well as increased funding from the state, especially Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) funds, as well as increased department revenues.
PILOT funds increased
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more than $ 1 million from the current budget.
Rivers said, when he first got to town, there were a few years of significant tax increases and revenues were stagnant or reduced, a " very painful" situation.
"Our work is paying off in a number of areas and we're seeing it," he said.
The proposed Willimantic mill rate is 11.19, a reduction of 1.69 mills from the current mill rate. Combined with the town mill rate, which is 35.78, Willimantic taxpayers will pay a total of 46.97 mills under the proposed budget, a reduction of 3.12 mills from the current budget.
For a home assessed at $ 86,000, the median assessment in Willimantic, Willimantic taxpayers would pay $268 less in taxes.
The budget includes $ 100,000 to install cameras throughout Willimantic, a project prompted by the recent use of private security cameras to solve a hit- andrun accident and track down the perpetrators of graffiti in Willimantic.
"It's an effective tool to fight crime," Willimantic Police Chief Paul Hussey said of the cameras.
Hussey said Norwich police solved a murder case using their camera system.
He said the cameras will be put up in areas with more crime, as well as by the entrances and exits into Willimantic.
Council member Nectalis Martinez said he supported the camera purchase, noting he was supportive of sacrificing " a little bit of privacy" for safety.
" Willimantic has too many exits for people who actually want to get away," he said.
Board member Charles Krich, however, was not supportive of the security camera system.
"I don't like being in places where I am photographed against my will and I am willing to give that up to maintain my privacy," he said.
Krich's motion to remove the $ 100,000 for that project failed due to the lack of a second.
Ultimately, he supported the budget, noting $ 100,000 is a small part of the budget.
The budget also includes the addition of a social worker, who would work for the police department.
The budget also includes an increase in the taxing district's contribution for town services, from $ 85,000 to $200,000.
Those services include tax collection, finance department services and administrative expenses. Only one person, Larry Kellogg, commented during the hearing, which was held virtually.
Kellogg said he felt board members should be asking more questions about the budget.
He said he felt the hearing should have been mentioned on the electronic sign at Jillson Square and wasn't.
" Why is that?" Kellogg asked.
Rivers said he asked for the hearing to be mentioned on the signboard, but the person who takes care of the sign was out of work and it didn't get done.
The budget will be presented to taxpayers during an annual meeting on May 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Taxpayers will vote on the budget, as well as the general government and school budgets, during a referendum on May 10.
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