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Politics & Government

Department Heads Appeal For 2010-2011 Budget Restoration

First Selectman says pension fund contributions can be trimmed in favor of town services.

The town's department heads Tuesday night appealed for restoration of funds cut from their proposed 2010-2011 budgets by the Board of Finance earlier this month.

Presenting their arguments to the Representative Town Meeting's Finance Committee, they requested $1,236,003 be returned to their requests for next year.

On April 7, members of the Board of Finance handed the RTM a proposed operating budget for next year of $62,504,337, exclusive of the Board of Education.

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Tuesday's meeting led off with First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff arguing against the finance board's assertion that the town's department budgets needed to cut as much as necessary to fully fund its employees' pension plans.

"We are about 95 percent funded in our pension plans," Joseloff said. "Yes, we don't know what tomorrow will bring or the next day will bring, but I think it's shortsighted to punish Westporters today in the very likelihood that our pension plans will be fully capable of paying out to our employees in the years ahead."

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Joseloff told RTM members they must meet the expectations of their constituents to keep fire houses open, provide police protection, and keep the library open on all Sundays.

"You can opt to keep Westport the jewel that it is by approving these restoration requests," Joseloff said. "You can do so by opting to reduce slightly our pension contributions so Westporters of today will not suffer, and still assure the viability of our pension obligations to the retirees of tomorrow."

Joseloff said restoring department budget requests the way his administration has requested will result in the same tax increase suggested by the Board of Finance for the average Westport homeowner of $300 to $400 a year.

Following Joseloff's comments, department heads took turns at the lectern to appeal to the committee's member for fund restorations.

The RTM's Finance Committee will hold a final meeting on the 2010-2011 budget next Tuesday.

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