Board 'Troubled' With Preliminary Budget

On day two of its budget workshop, some members of the Board of Finance said Tuesday they were "troubled" by the draft municipal budget for the 2010-2011 year.

Though First Selectman Gordon Joseloff hasn't officially presented the budget to the Board of Finance yet, his preliminary request of $63.6 million is a 7.6 percent increase over the current budget. Joseloff is scheduled to make his formal presentation to the board March 3.

One problem some board members had with the preliminary budget is that it doesn't allow the town to fully fund its pension liabilities. Pentegra Retirement Services told town officials last month — in a report on financial accounting results — that to fully fund the pension liability, the town would need to contribute $8.3 million in the 2010-2011 budget.

The preliminary budget calls for $4.1 million to fund pensions, which is about the same amount included in the current year's budget but half of what's necessary to fully fund it.

"I am extremely distressed with the process that has brought us here tonight," Board of Finance member Ken Wirfel said during the meeting. "Quality of life in Westport for the years to come is governed by these pensions ... I for one will not vote for a budget that only funds this to $4 million."

Wirfel asked for more information that compares how other nearby communities are funding their pension liabilities.

"I know the state of Connecticut may be going to hell in a handbasket but the town of Westport is not going along for the ride," he continued. "Whether we go from $4 million to $8 million is one thing or $4 million to $6 million or $4 million to $7 million, that money is coming out of other lines in the budget because I'm not voting for a $4 million pension this year."

Board member Brian Stern echoed Wirfel's concerns and agreed that funding pensions at the same level as this year would not be prudent. He said he worried the pension liabilities will only continue to increase. In response to some questions, Joseloff said he'd love to fully fund the pensions, but that would mean higher taxes.

"We could fully fund it and our tax increase would be in the 6.7 percent range (for the two-year period)," Joseloff said. "Three percent over two years is pretty good for the services you get in Westport, but we have tried to keep the tax increase low."

Stern said "this is the year to reset the way we do business as a town."

"This year, people will understand belt tightening and what that means for services," he said, adding that prioritization and postponing some projects might be required.

"What worried me in the last budget was that for whatever reason we cut stuff that really was not a long-term cost cut. ... We really have to come in with a budget on the cost side that is responsive to the new conditions we have in town and my suggestion is that cost increase should be zero."

When board chair Helen Garten asked for specifics, Stern said all department heads should respond to the call for a zero percent increase.

Garten said she was troubled by the request for new employees from some departments, specifically the Police and the Parks and Recreation departments.

Joseloff said the police department's request for two officers would end up being cheaper than paying existing officers overtime.

Wirfel said there might be other opportunities to replace officers with civilians at a cheaper cost, such as employing a traffic agent to man railroad parking instead of a police officer.

Wirfel added that if departments, such as the police department, expect wage increases then they have to "do more with less."

Garten said if all the money is in salaries and benefits, then perhaps the town will have to operate with a smaller staff in the future.

When it comes to public safety, Joseloff said you can't gamble with life and death and property, and people who move to Westport expect to be well protected.

"Anything that we do that diminshes the attractiveness of Westport, we have to consider very carefully because as the crime rate goes up and fire rating goes down for delayed response, if we are cutting back we're now cutting into the bone," Joseloff said. "These are the kinds of things we have to wrestle with and find that balance between keeping Westport great and watching the slow deterioration of Westport and I'll fight for that — to keep it great."

The Board of Finance is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the 2010-2011 budget at 8 p.m. March 3 in the Town Hall auditorium.