TOWN OF STONINGTON, CONNECTICUT ADOPTED BUDGET For the Fiscal Year July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021 In accordance with Governor Lamont’s executive order 7HH the Annual Town Meeting was not held this year. The budget and mil rate were adopted at a joint special virtual meeting of the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance on Tuesday, May 12, 2020. TOWN OF STONINGTON TABLE OF CONTENTS 2020-2021 ADOPTED BUDGET PAGE BUDGET MESSAGE INTRODUCTION Budget Calendar 1 Town Information & Demographics 2 Building Permits 8 Top Ten Taxpayers 9 Principal Officials 10 Organization Chart 11 Property Tax on a Residential Home with a Median Market Value of $315,800 12 Property Tax Revenue per Capita 13 Revenue/Expenditure Pie Charts 14 Fund Balance History 16 Mill Rate Calculation 17 Mill Rate Impact Summary 18 Revenue Summary 19 Expenditure Summary 21 FIRST SELECTMAN Office of Selectman 35 Programs & Agencies 35 Waterfront Commission 36 Pawcatuck River Harbor Management 36 Shellfish Commission 36 Economic Development Commission 36 Commission to Study Needs & Use of Town Buildings 37 Beautification Committee 37 Charter Revision Committee 37 Emergency Management 37 Elections 38 Town Clerk 39 Town Meeting & Referenda 39 Payments to Other Civil Divisions 39 DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Administrative Services 42 Information Systems 43 Human Resources 44 Health Officer and Sanitarian 45 Community Development 45 TOWN OF STONINGTON TABLE OF CONTENTS 2020-2021 ADOPTED BUDGET PAGE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT Assessor’s Office 51 Board of Assessment Appeals 51 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE Finance Office 56 Treasurer 56 Tax Collector 57 Board of Finance 58 Risk Management 58 DEBT SERVICE 64 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING Planning and Land Use 70 Planning & Zoning Commission 71 Zoning Board of Appeals 71 Conservation Commission 71 Inland Wetlands Commission 71 Climate Change Task Force 71 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Highway 74 Solid Waste 80 Engineering Services 84 Facilities Operations (formerly Building Operations) 87 Building Official 91 Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) 95 DEPARTMENT OF POLICE SERVICES 99 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES Human Services 105 Commission on Aging 105 Recreation 106 Libraries 106 Outside Agencies 107 Ambulances & Fire Services 107 BOARD OF EDUCATION 109 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) 126 TOWN OF STONINGTON SELECTMAN’S OFFICE DANIELLE CHESEBROUGH FIRST SELECTMAN 152 Elm Street • Stonington, Connecticut 06378 (860) 535-5050 • Fax (860) 535-1046 [email protected] 2020 – 2021 ANNUAL BUDGET MESSAGE We knew going into this budget cycle that we were going to have to be fiscally prudent. We would no longer be able to draw as much as we have in the past from our reserve fund. We also understood that the infrastructure needs for our sewer treatment plants were escalating at a faster pace than expected, and that the State of CT had limited ability to provide Stonington with financial support. These were all the known challenges. When we started the budget process at Town Hall in early November, the US still had not reported its first COVID-19 case. Today, there is much uncertainty about how COVID-19 will impact our community in the short and longer term. The budget established for 2020-2021 is our best attempt to meet both the known and unknown needs of our community. Since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold each day brings about new information and challenges for our entire community. The budget that went before residents during the virtual public hearing, represented what most of us at the time thought was the most balanced budget we could offer tax payers, while still providing the services we have all come to expect. There were already difficult cuts, ranging from investments aimed to improve the local economy to long awaited infrastructure improvements. It became clear, even those cuts which represented a million dollar decrease in expenditures from last year’s budget, were not enough. Stonington already ranks in the top 15% of CT towns with the lowest mil rates. Of the 169 towns, those with a similar population (ranging from 15,000-22,000) as Stonington rank as the third lowest mil rate. Finding places to further cut an already conservative overall budget has not been without its frustrations or challenging moments; however, I am extremely proud of how we have been able to find ways to make needed reductions. The budget being put forward was made possible thanks to the diligent work of various boards, commission, non-profits and staff. The collaboration, dedication and compassion displayed by so many throughout the entire budget process was inspiring. All of these combined efforts made it possible to create a budget that reduces spending by $2,100,525 from the previous fiscal year. This reduction means we will have a flat mil rate, so taxes remain the same in the coming year. With all the economic uncertainty, we know this course of action is what is needed for our community. According to the Governor’s office, from March 13- April 15 2020, the Department of Labor received more than 350,000 unemployment applications; nearly the same amount that it typically receives over a two-year period. We often hear that people want fiscally prudent governments; however, when faced with the reality of what cuts will need to take place it can be extremally challenging. Worthwhile projects are not funded, useful infrastructure is not replaced, even investments in education have to be curtailed. These reductions in expenditures are not just numbers, they have real life consequences. However, there are also consequences to not facing financial realities. We have to face the challenges put before us as a community. With this year’s budget we aim to provide stability to our community, for both our residents and local businesses. We will continue to provide the services local municipalities are responsible for, while keeping the payments expected in terms of taxes flat. Looking at the six main areas of funding our taxes go to, the percentage of funding received will remain, for the most part, consistent. The largest change comes in the capital improvements segment of the budget which went from 4,725,024 in 2019-20 to 2,438,631 for 2020-21 budget. However, when looking at the average CIP expenditure for the five years prior to 2019-20, the average was closer to this year, at 2,690,669 in expenditures. The Town of Stonington also put in place a program to benefit taxpayers in need of a tax deferral due to furlough, layoff, business closure or other circumstances related to COVID-19 that put them in financial hardship. The program, which follows state guidelines set forth in an emergency declaration from Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, will offer a 90-day deferral of taxes on real property, personal property and motor vehicles. The program also offers a deferral of municipal water, sewer and electric bills for residents and business owners as needed. In looking at our next major area of needed investment, we are preparing to address the infrastructure issues facing our sewer system. Our aging sewer system is in need of a significant investment and will require a bond to address the infrastructure needs. Once it is safe to bring the community together for a vote, a sewer bond will be the first item on our upcoming agenda. We are an extremely fortunate community as we earned a AAA bond rating in 2019, the highest level a municipality can earn. This was largely due to the years of hard decisions and work from current and former staff, volunteers and elected officials- in particular the Board of Finance. This has already saved the town over $600,000 and should serve us well as we seek to issue our next municipal bond. We are a resilient and creative community, and together we will get through this time stronger, together. In closing, I would like to thank many of our current and former community volunteers, staff and elected officials for their dedicated service to the community. TOWN OF STONINGTON BUDGET CALENDAR 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR November 12, 2019 Budget packets to submitting departments. December 6, 2019 Itemization of Expenditures, Budget Commentary and Professional Services are sent to Finance Office. December 31, 2019 Departmental Budget Requests are compiled by the Finance Office and sent to the First Selectman January 2020 First Selectman will meet with Department Heads to review submitted budgets. First Selectman forwards her budget to the Board of Finance. February 2020 - March 2020 Board of Finance review of Departmental Budgets. No later than March 1, 2020 Board of Education Budget to First Selectman and Board of Finance. March 2020 - April 2020 Board of Finance finalizes its recommended budget for Public Hearing. April 9, 2020 Board of Finance - Public Hearing on the Budget (Not later than the 1st Monday in May) May 12, 2020 Annual Town Meeting on the Budget - In accordance with Governor Lamont’s executive order 7B, 7I and 7HH (No later than the 3rd Monday in May) the Annual Town Meeting will not be held this year. The budget and mil rate will be considered and adopted at a joint special virtual meeting of the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 1 THE TOWN OF STONINGTON The Town of Stonington is located in the southeastern corner of Connecticut, bordering Rhode Island to the east, Long Island Sound to the south, Groton, Ledyard and North Stonington to the west and north. Fishers Island and Long Island can be seen to the southwest and Block Island to the southeast. The rocky shoreline has many peninsulas, islands, coves and marshes. Stonington boasts a rare and attractive combination of seaside and semi-rural working and living sites.