Monroe Budget Proposal Comes With Projected Tax Increase

MONROE, CT — First Selectman Ken Kellogg's budget is being pitched to the Town Council Monday night. It comes with an estimated 2.6 percent mill rate increase.

Kellogg's budget has a .6 percent increase in spending on the town side, according to his budget memo. The town will see a projected 10 percent increase in medical insurance costs and a similar rise in pension costs for police along with challenges for recycling costs.

" I continue to implement deliberate practices to minimize the tax burden through conservative spending, fostering growth in our grand list, and applying budget neutral solutions to improve services where necessary and appropriate," he said.

The Board of Education requested a 4.88 percent budget increase. Combined with Kellogg's town-side budget that would require a mill rate increase of 3.7 percent. However, Kellogg instead is pitching a 4.01 percent increase in Board of Education spending, which would bring the total projected mill rate increase to 2.62 percent.

Kellogg said he supports using $700,000 in a contingency fund to help offset a budget deficit for the Board of Education in the current fiscal year. He is also recommending a $1 million contingency fund for unanticipated municipal and Board of Education expenses going forward.

"Due to the state-mandated property revaluation that was just completed by our Assessor’s Office, the mill rate increase is not in proportion to the tax levy," Kellogg said in the memo. He urged taxpayers to use the town's online calculator to research the impact on individual tax bills.

The town has its annual referendum scheduled for May 5.