Bolton Republicans

Google Maps | Yahoo! | Amazon

search

Welcome to the Bolton RTC Website!

Home

Bolton RTC Meetings

Bolton RTC Members

Bolton Republicans Call for 3% Tax Cut

The Bolton Republican Town Committee took an unprecedented step regarding the town’s budget at its last meeting April 19. After a lengthy and detailed discussion about the economy, the budget, and the role of political parties in the process, the committee voted to ask that voters be presented with a budget proposal that incorporates a 3% tax decrease by the fourth referendum.

 Here’s why:

• In years past the committee has refrained from taking a position on the budget, instead allowing the process to unfold through public hearings and referenda. Circumstances today, however, are very different. The recession has cut state revenues, impacted town finances and has had real, tangible effects on Connecticut workers and their families.
• The private sector has contracted significantly. Employees have sacrificed wages and working hours with no guarantee that they will avoid becoming a statistic in the ranks of the unemployed, which now stands at 9.3% in the state.
• Connecticut residents are earning less and paying more. Per capita income last year declined 3.3% — the most dramatic change since World War II. (Source: http://bber.unm.edu/econ/us-pci.htm ) According to the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, the per capita tax burden in Connecticut is $2,312, or nearly double the national burden of $1,278 and 2nd highest in the nation.
• School enrollment is declining. The number of Bolton students peaked at 988 in 2002 and has steadily declined to 808 for 2010. And based on current enrollments at the entry-level grades, student population will continue to drop.

Our proposal respects the referenda process and helps the town work toward a bottom line that more accurately reflects today’s economic realities. And while Bolton Republicans recognize this is not an easy time to be an elected official or manager in local government, and we’re appreciative of people willing to serve and supportive of their efforts, the fact remains difficult decisions must be made now. The current economic climate and state budget situation dictate that we must.

Finding a way to reduce costs without cutting programs or services may seem drastic, but it is a first step in regaining taxpayers’ faith that their government is concerned with the welfare of all of its citizens.

Our State

The Nation

Bolton Websites

Town of Bolton

Bolton Community News

Bolton Board of Ed

Bolton PTA

Bolton Fire Department

Other Websites

Connecticut Republicans

Sean Hannity

Talk of Connecticut

Related Link

Related Link

Overview of the Town of Bolton Budget for

Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2011

For Referendum #1 on May 18, 2010

1. The question on the ballot for referendum #1 is “Shall the Annual Budget for the Town of Bolton for the fiscal year 2010-2011 as recommended by the Board of Finance, in the amount of $18,181,849 be adopted?”

2. The approximate tax rate increase reflected in this budget = 2.66%. (Note: actual tax rate may change after a referendum is approved, but expenditures will be fixed as stated above.) The new mill rate is 28.93.

3. Increase in total expenditures from last year = $217,032 or 1.21%.

4. Town Proper spending decreases by $40,602 or -1.59%

5. Board of Education spending increases by $188,380 or 1.59%. For additional information about the education budget please refer to this article (Education Budget Challenges)

6. Debt Service decreases by $200,288 or -16.53%. Debt service is declining. Costs related to the high school renovation project are not part of the current debt payments. Once the high school is built debt payments will increase by approximately $1,200,000 per year. 80% of all the revenue from Columbia students is being set aside to pay debt and other costs related to the construction of the new building.

7. Contingency increases from $20,000 to $40,000 or 100%. For the 5 years prior the budget approved by the voters in the final referendum had a contingency of $20,000. In all those cases the contingency money, funds for financial emergencies during the course of the fiscal year, was never used. For this referendum the contingency was increased to $40,000. This change was made because the new charter is more restrictive of how the cost overruns can be handled. It is more probable this year that contingency funds will be needed during the course of the fiscal year.

8. Capital Improvements increases by $249,542 or 106.03%. Please note that the capital improvement budget has been historically underfunded. With the charter changes being implemented for the first time in this budget, there is a sizeable increase in this line item. In future years this cost should become a stable percentage of the overall budget.

Education Budget Challenges

1) Student population is declining

a) In 2002 Bolton students (K-12) in the Bolton School system peaked at 988 students. In 2010 this number has declined to 808 for a decrease of 18.2%.

b) In 2010 the total (Bolton and Columbia) students in system = (808+58=866) or a decline of 12.3% since 2002.

c) This year Bolton Center School will graduate 96 students from 8^th grade whereas the kindergarten class has 53 students yielding a decline of 44.8%. The trend going forward is also for smaller incoming classes compared to the size of the classes graduating.

2) Cost to educate a student in the Bolton School System is rising

	Total Cost To Educate a Student
	2002	2006	2007	2008	2009
Bolton Student (note 1)	$8,905.87	$11,902.52	$13,186.01	$14,112.61	$14,564.90
Columbia Student (note 2)			$ 1,840.00	$ 1,913.60	$ 1,990.14
Notes: 1. Bolton Cost/Student = (Total budget – Ed. Revenue from Columbia)/ # of Bolton Students in Bolton school system. 2. Columbia Cost/Student = Ed. Revenue from Columbia/# of Columbia students in Bolton school system. 3. Bolton costs include pre K education, transportation, tuition for Bolton students not in Bolton system etc. that slightly increase average cost per student relative to cost for a Columbia student.

a) Costs per student are rapidly escalating because

i) Bolton enrollment is dropping quickly

ii) Only 20% of the revenue from Columbia students is allocated to their education

3) Recap of changes impacting Education Budget

Changes to Education Costs, Students and Per Capita Income
	10/1/2002	10/1/2007	10/1/2009	2010-2011	% Change
BOE Total Budget	$ 8,799,000			$ 12,072,251	37.2%
Cost to Educate a Bolton Student	$ 8,906		$ 14,565		63.5%
Cost to Educate a Bolton Student		$ 13,186	$ 14,565		10.5%
Cost to Educate a Columbia Student		$ 1,840	$ 1,990		8.2%
Bolton Students (K-12)	988		808		-18.2%
Total Students (Bolton and Columbia, K-12)	988		866		-12.3%
Per Capita Income for CT.	$43,344		$54,397		25.5%

All numbers in table based on grades K-12

Bolton Republican Town Committee Members The following citizens of Bolton currently serve as officers of the Republican Town Committee: Chairman - David Treadwell; Vice-Chairman - Jennifer Harvey; Secretary - Mark Altermatt; Treasurer - Ron Rousseau. A complete listing of all members of the Bolton RTC is available on this website.