Community Corner

RTM Finalizes Budget With 2.1 Percent Increase

The combined cost for the town and schools will be $179 million.

Consider Westport’s $179 million budget signed, sealed and delivered. It’s the largest in town history and represents a 2.1 percent increase. Some projections by town officials put the expected tax hike in the next fiscal year at 4.5 percent.

The Representative Town Meeting, the town’s legislative body, formally approved the 2011-12 budget on Tuesday night after two meetings. The school portion of the budget, which is often contentious, was voted on within an hour of the meeting without a hitch.

After the approval, the audience cheered and began to file out of the Town Hall auditorium. The total cost for the schools is a $112.4 million, which is a 1.65 percent increase. The effects of $250,000 cuts will be unknown until Monday, when Superintendent of Schools Elliott Landon will likely present where the money should come from.

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“We don’t have the details yet on where we’re going to find this $250 [thousand],” said O’Day.

In the past two days, the RTM considered restoring money to the proposed budget that was originally cut by the Board of Finance. The board hoped that by cutting the money, consolidation with the towns and schools would be required. Some controversy ensued.

Find out what's happening in Westportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Another bout of applause erupted when $70,000 was restored to the Parks and Recreation Department. That cut would have would have meant the firing of two clerks or a member of management.

Two years ago, a possible cut from the schools galvanized supporters. A year ago, it was the threat that the library would close on Sundays. This year, the Parks and Recreation Department attracted the most support.

“With the recession and the economy, more and more Westporters are relying upon the…facilities here because they can’t go elsewhere and spend the money,” said Stanley Nayer, one of a dozen or so supporters that turned out to defend Parks and Recreation in the past two meetings.

The RTM approved the $70,000 expenditure in a 28-5 vote, arguing that Parks and Recreation is a moneymaker and shouldn’t be cut in order to prevent possible long-term damage.

"I would support any request for restoration," said Dick Lowenstein, RTM District 5. "I think these cuts are close to intolerable.

The 2011-12 budget goes into effect July 1 and the new tax rate will be set on May 18. 


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