East Windsor First Selectman Unveils $35.7 Million Budget for 2013-14

First Selectman Denise Menard last week unveiled a $35.7 million budget for $2013-14 that, if approved by voters, calls for a $1.55 million increase - or 4.54 percent - over current spending levels.

The proposed budget includes $21.15 million for education, representing a $981,100 increase, and $14.55 million for general government operations, which represents a $824,422 spending increase over 2012-13.

Much of the increase in government operations, some $539,000, is in the capital improvement program, which would go from $471,000 to $1.01 million, or a 114 percent hike.

The school spending increase, if approved, would be 4.86 percent.

“We all know it’s going to be a difficult year, [especially] with the revaluation of real properties,” First Selectman Denise Menard said in a telephone interview. “[Residents’] property values are going to be lower, which makes the budget numbers a little more difficult to understand.”

Menard also said that the grants at the state level have not been finalized, yet, making the budget a bit of a moving target.

“It’s difficult to explain to where we are,” Menard said. “We will do what we can to make it more understandable.”

As for the next step in the process, the East Windsor Board of Finance will hold a public hearing on the budget on Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m. in the East Windsor High School.

The purpose of the public hearing is to receive comment and input on the proposed town budget before the finance board begins its review.