The LWV of Weston pamphlet, from which this information comes, is available at the Town Clerk's Office...free of charge!
L E A G U E   OF   W O M E N   V O T E R S   O F   W E S T O N

THIS PAGE IS BASED UPON THE 2003 CHARTER:
CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION 2011-2012 WILL BE ASKING THE VOTERS TO MAKE CHANGES AT ELECTION 2012 - BUT UNTIL THEN, THESE ARE THE "RULES"

Guide to Weston's Budget Process On-Line

Town Meeting - The Town Meeting form of government is a link with history. It grew out of decision-making used in the American colonies over 300 years ago. It is the purist form of democrary - one person, one vote - and is used in a majority of municipalities in Connecticut. Under the Town Meeting form of government, every qualified voter is a legislator of the town. The major legislative power of the town is vested in the Town Meeting. The remaining legislative power is vested in the Board of Selectmen.

 Qualified Voters for Town Meeting - All registered Weston voters are members of the Town Meeting. In addition, U.S. citizens 18 years or older, who own property in Weston assessed at $1000 or more, but are not registered voters, may participate and vote. ACTION at the Town Meeting is taken by a majority of qualified voters present and voting.

Annual Town Budget Meeting (ATBM) - The purpose of the Annual Town Budget Meeting is to achieve a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The Town Budget consists of the Selectmen's Budget (line items for each town agency and service), the Board of Education Budget (which is one line item), and the Capital Budget (items from all agencies and the Board of Education which cost over $10,000 and with a life expectancy of 10 years or more). The last is reviewed by the Capital Planning Committee, an informal, advisory committee of the First Selectman.

NOTE:  the amount may have been raised



Ken Edgar Citizen of the Year, award from Police Commission (Chair. Rick Phillip);  Reminder of Public Hearing on new Charter April 25th
ATBM over in a flash!  Maybe an hour?  (89 people attended) - Referendum April 12  More turned out for Referendum - 364
FY  '13 BUDGET PROCESS SCHEDULE:

WHERE ARE WE NOW?  On to ATBM April 4, REFERENDUM April 12..

As described below, the schedule for reviewing and voting on the 2012-13 budget was approved by the selectmen with no changes.  Last Friday, Nov. 18, budget packages were mailed to all municipal departments, which must return their budget requests to the town administrator by Thursday, Dec. 15.
WESTON BUDGET REVIEW CYCLE FY'13


Annual Town Budget Meeting: Weston voters have their say Wednesday
Weston FORUM
Written by Patricia Gay
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 10:59
About the ATBM

Who: All registered Weston voters and Weston taxpayers with at least $1,000 assessed value of property who are U.S. citizens over the age of 18
What: Annual Town Budget Meeting (ATBM)
When: Wednesday, April 4, 8PM
Where: Weston High School auditorium
Why: To approve the $65-million town, school, capital, and debt service budget proposals; capital and debt service budgets will be final, while school and town budgets approved at ATBM will go to a machine vote Thursday, April 12.

Weston’s Annual Town Budget Meeting (ATBM) is set for next Wednesday, April 4, at 8 p.m. in the Weston High School auditorium.  Voters are being asked to consider a $65,047,232 gross budget for 2012-13, an overall increase of $1,088,644, up 1.70% from the current year’s budget. That includes:
• The town operating budget of $11,408,552 (a 2.01% increase from the current budget)
• The school operating budget of $45,587,192 (a 0.93% increase)
• A total debt service budget of $6,649,705 (a 1.46% decrease from the current budget)
• A total capital budget of $1,401,783 ($1,147,000 town, $470,238 schools, less $215,455 in revenue offsets) is a 36.49% increase from the current budget.
• The total gross budget is expected to be offset by revenues of $2,668,566, making the net budget $62.378 million, a 1.36% increase over the current net budget.

“This is your chance to participate in democracy,” said First Selectman Gayle Weinstein. “The budget concerns one of the most important bills you will pay this year — your taxes — and you deserve to have a voice in the process.”

Finance board weighs in

Changes were made to the proposed budget by the finance board at a meeting on Wednesday, March 21.

The school board’s capital budget request was lowered from $485,328 to $470,238 due to a $15,000 cut to a paving request for the parking lot across from Central Office at Hurlbutt Elementary School. Finance Board Chairman Jerry Sargent said the cut was made because the property was originally acquired as open space and zoning regulations prohibit it from being paved.

The board lowered the town’s proposed operating budget increase from 2.16% to 2.01% not by cutting the budget, but by increasing the amount of revenue offset from the town’s cell tower enterprise fund. The selectmen had proposed using $122,000 from the enterprise fund towards communications center salaries. The finance board upped that amount by $16,000 to a $138,000 revenue offset.

The finance board considered cutting the school operating budget, but after two failed motions, kept the $45,587,192 request intact.

Mr. Sargent made a motion to cut $150,000 from the school operating budget, which failed in a 4-3 vote. Mr. Sargent, Patty Kopas and David Finkel voted in favor, while Michael Carter, Mike O’Brien, Melissa Koller and Steve Ezzes voted against.

After the meeting, Mr. Sargent said his reason for the cut was based on declining enrollment projected for the schools. “It was the elephant in the room,” he said. Overall, he thought the schools did a “terrific job” managing their current budget by cutting costs in areas such as fuel consumption and health benefits, but believed future declining enrollment needed to be addressed.

A motion was then made by Michael Carter to cut $83,000 from the school operating budget, the cost of a “contingency teacher.” Mr. Carter said if the schools needed the teaching position, they could come back to the board for an additional appropriation.

That motion also failed in a 4-3 vote. Mr. Carter, Mr. Sargent and Mr. O’Brien voted in favor, while Ms. Kopas, Mr. Finkel, Ms. Koller and Mr. Ezzes voted against.

A motion to approve the school operating budget as presented and approved by the school board was approved in a 4-3 vote, with Mr. O’Brien, Ms. Koller, Mr. Ezzes and Ms. Kopas voting in favor, and Mr. Sargent, Mr. Carter and Mr. Finkel voting against it.

Mr. Sargent said Weston’s overall proposed budget increase was lower than surrounding towns.

“Both the town and schools have worked very hard to put together a responsible budget for the taxpayers. I believe it is a worthy budget to approve,” he said.

Annual Town Budget Meeting

Voters at the ATBM will be asked to approve or reject the capital and debt service budgets.

Voters may then discuss the school and town budgets. If a motion is made to do so, the entire amount of the school budget may be lowered by a majority vote of the ATBM. Individual line items in the town operating budget may also be lowered by majority vote.

Town charter does not allow the ATBM to increase either the school or the town budgets.

Referendum

The final total school and town budgets approved by the ATBM will then head to voters at a machine vote referendum to be held Thursday, April 12, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Weston Middle School in the gymnasium.

Voters must be U.S. citizens at least 18 years of age.

To vote at the ATBM and/or the referendum, one must be either be a resident of Weston who is registered to vote, or a Weston taxpayer with at least $1,000 assessed value of property.

Absentee voting

Absentee ballots for the referendum will be available beginning Thursday, April 5 (after the ATBM). These ballots must be picked up in person or by a designee and must be returned to the town clerk before the April 12 referendum.

The town clerk’s office at Weston Town Hall is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Those voting absentee must appear at town hall in person or designate on their application a family member or caregiver to pick up an absentee ballot.

Absentee ballots will not be mailed, as allowed by state statute when there is less than three weeks between finalizing the budget and the machine vote.

Mill rate

If all portions of the budgets pass as proposed, the expected mill rate will be 24.10, a 0.16% increase from this year’s rate of 23.94.

A mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value on the grand list. The mill rate is derived by dividing the town’s grand levy (its debt) by the town’s grand list. The grand list is made up of real estate, personal property and motor vehicle assessments.

At a mill rate of 24.10, a taxpayer with property assessed at $500,000 would pay $80 more in taxes: $12,050 next year, compared with $11,970 this year.

Because the April 4 ATBM takes place after The Forum’s press deadline, information on the results will not be in the April 5 issue, but will be available online immediately following the meeting. Full coverage of the ATBM will be in the April 12 issue of The Forum.

ONLINE FIRST: Weston Board of Finance sends budget to ATBM
Weston FORUM
Written by Patricia Gay
Thursday, 22 March 2012 15:42

The Weston Board of Finance voted on final proposed town, school and capital budgets to send to the voters.

At a budget meeting held Wednesday, March 21, the board approved a proposed town operating budget of $11,408,552, a 2.01% increase over the current year.

That number is $16,000 less than proposed by the selectmen, and comes from an increase in a revenue offset from an enterprise fund.

The selectmen had proposed taking $122,000 from the town’s cell tower enterprise fund to help pay for operating the communications center. The finance board voted to increase the revenue offset to $138,000. This lowers the proposed increase in the town operating budget from 2.16% to 2.01%.

The finance board approved the school operating budget exactly as proposed by the Board of Education, at $45,587,192, a 0.93% increase over the current year.

The board cut $15,000 from the education capital request, and approved a proposed capital budget of $1,401,783, a 36.49% increase from the current year. The education request included $15,000 for the paving of a driveway at Hurlbutt Elementary School. However, it came to light during the budget process that the area was acquired as open space and cannot be paved because of zoning regulations.

After factoring in the town’s debt service and revenues, the proposed mill rate will be 24.10, a 0.67% increase. A mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

An Annual Town Budget Meeting (ATBM), is set for Wednesday, April 4. Voters at the ATBM will decide the bottom line town and school budgets that will go to referendum. The machine vote referendum is scheduled for Thursday, April 12.

MOST RECENTLY APPROVED BUDGET
                           

Countdown to the Annual Town Budget Meeting (ATBM)

All Town Agency Meetings mentioned below (Boards, Commissions and Committees) are open to the public.  The dates mentioned below come from the CHARTER.                                                            

In late November the Board of Education invites public input as the budget assumptions and enrollment projections are discussed.
Before January 14th, citizens may submit suggested additions for the First Selectman's budget to the Town Administrator. All Town Agencies except the Board of Education submit estimates to the First Selectman. The Board of Education, in early January "review" meetings, adopts its budget; after this time the school budget cannot be raised.
By January 14 proposed Capital Budget items must be submitted.  For complete details of the budget process, see the Town Charter and the Moderator's Handbook, available at Town Hall.
By February 3rd the Board of Education submits a preliminary budget to the First Selectman.  Prior to this time, the Board of Education has approved its own budget. ONCE PASSED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE SCHOOL BUDGET CANNOT BE RAISED.
By February 10th the First Selectman presents the proposed Town Budget to the Board of Selectmen.  (REMINDER:  THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN HAS NO POWER TO REDUCE THE EDUCATION BUDGET BY CHARTER)...
By February 25th the Board of Selectmen presents the proposed preliminary Town Budget to the Board of Finance. After this time, the Selectmen's budget cannot be raised. Changes desired by the Board of Selectmen to the budget proposal of the Board of Education can be in the form of a recommendation only.
In early March, the Board of Finance reviews the Town Budget.  THE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S BUDGET WILL BE REVIEWED...
In late March or early April--at least two weeks before the Annual Town Budget Meeting (ATBM)...\
The Board of Finance holds one or more Public Hearings on the Board of Education Budget, the Selectmen's Budget and the Capital Budget.  After Public Hearing (s), the Board of Finance may "revise" any budget line as it deems advisable.  This has been traditionally been interpreted as "reduce".
At least five days before the Annual Town Budget Meeting notice of the "call" of ATBM is published in a local newspaper and copies of the proposed Town Budget and tax rate are available at the Town Clerk's Office.
No later than April 22nd the Annual Town Budget Meeting (8pm to no later than 11:30pm [8:30pm to no later than 11pm]--if business is not concluded before 11:30pm[11pm], ATBM reconvenes the following night [s]). After ten days, if there has been no challenge, the budget is deemed adopted. The ATBM can only APPROVE or REDUCE any line item proposed by the Board of Finance.


Budget Challenge Procedures...before and after the ATBM...
Get a copy of the LWV of Weston pamphlet at the Town Clerk's Office--this is really complicated!!!  No matter how it happens--either before or after the Annual Town Budget Meeting--a challenge "to the machines" to vote in private on the budget will always require a return to Town Meeting...which has the final word!  See Charter Revision Commission'a now approved changes (#2 and #3).


Special Appropriation Procedures After ATBM

Additional Appropriations - Up to $5000 for any agency may be made by the Board of Selectmen. Total for all agencies not to exceed $50,000 per year.
Supplemental Appropriations - May be made by the Board of Selectmen with the approval of the Board of Finance, provided the total sum does not exceed 2% of the current tax levy in any fiscal year.
Extraordinary Appropriations - May be applied for by any town agency to both the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance.  If not approved by either Board, the agency may request a Special Town Meeting. At such Town Meeting a minimum of 10% of qualified town voters is required to take action. A majority of that 10% is required to pass the extraordinary expense.  If a petition for a machine vote (Ct. General Statutes Section 7.7 required 200 signatures) is filed against the Call of such Town Meeting, after discussion, the Town Meeting is adjourned and a machine vote is held not less than 7 or more than 14 days thereafter. A majority of 10% of all qualified voters is needed to pass the appropriation.



RESOURCES:


Town Charter (on-line version--Charter Revision in 2003:  ATBM now begins at 8pm, one half hour earlier and ends at 11:30pm, one half hour later); Administrative Code and copies of the LWV of Weston publication available at the Town Clerk's Office in Weston Town Hall.

Please find here the WfFR Symposium (Oct. 20, 2010) report in the Weston FORUM newspaper of  October 28, 2010.


LWVWeston's Home Page