The New Britain Herald has asked the candidates in the municipal elections questions on the issues facing our communities.

Today we present a question and answer session with the Southington Board of Finance.

Dennis Vachon, Democrat

355 Copper Ridge, Southington, CT, 06489

Employer: Reflexite Corporation

Education: Southington High , BS Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island

Civic and Professional Associations: Professional Engineer, National Society of Professional Engineer, NPSE; American Society of Chemical Engineers, AICHE; Southington Planning and Zoning Commission, alternate; Southington Energy Committee; Southington Elks Club

southingtondemocrats.com

Were there any cuts to the current budget that made you uncomfortable?

It’s always uncomfortable to reduce funding. This year department heads, aware of the national, state, and local economic crisis, submitted budgets that were already lower than the average request for increases. No one enjoys having to do more with less resources or doing more with the same resources. Many Southington residents are making sacrifices in their own homes and businesses doing more with the same or reduced resources. The town budgets should reflect the makeup of the whole community. The Board of Finance made tough decisions and took into account the needs of the taxpayers. I believe decisions are made best by those closest to the action and outcome of any decision. I support the Finance Board efforts that request final review and comment of annual budgets by each department head to be sure any proposed reduction to the percentage increase of funding poses no risk of public safety concern.

Do you think the current budget is too high, too low, or just right?

I think the current budget is appropriate for this year given the economic times. A great deal of thought, effort and research went into this year’s budget. I think the budget is just right for this year, and will support the fiscally responsible policies Southington Democrats have implemented. These fiscal policies have provided Southington the largest rainy day fund in the history of Southington, improved bond rating AA+ that has saved approx $750,000 of interest from schools project bonding and will continue to save the town hundreds of thousands. Southington maintained services with the smallest tax increase in over 10 years, while surrounding towns face large tax increases and slash services. Working together with the Board of Education and Town Council the Board of Finance was able to put together a budget that was suitable. I will work to continue these efforts as a member of the Board of Finance.

What steps can the town take to continue to provide services while keeping taxes low?

Respectful economic development, oversight, and efficiencies can fill the gap created as wealth from taxes of past industry disappears. Democrats on the Board of Finance and Town Council have been working on cost saving measures such as the Containment Policy which saved the taxpayers approximately $600,000 for the 2008/2009 fiscal year. I will be a new set of eyes to look at the department budgets. I will research expenditures, investigate alternatives, and work with all departments to understand their specific operating and capital budget requirments. I have experience managing capital projects and operating budgets. As a chemical engineer and manager my responsibilities include managing production operations, facilities, and environmental matters. I would use my experience as an alternate on the PZC over the past two years to assist the economic developer to bring family orientated businesses to Southington to increase the tax base and reduce the burden to our homeowners.

Kevin Beaudoin, Democrat

1140 Pleasant St Southington Ct.

Employer: State of Connecticut - Insurance Department

Education: Plainville High School, BS in Accounting from Eastern Ct. State University - MBA in Finance from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

southingtondemtc@aol.com

Were there any cuts to the current budget that made you uncomfortable? If so, what were they?

During this budget year, the Board of Finance (BOF) had to make many difficult budgetary decisions. We were in one of the worst recessions in 50 years. I would not be doing my job as an elected BOF member for the taxpayers of Southington if I didn’t take the affect of the recession into consideration. Residents are struggling with layoffs, reduced pay, increased healthcare cost, and financial constraints. Businesses in town were also feeling the pain. The last thing these taxpayers need is additional increased taxes. During our budget process, the BOF made reductions to the budget to a number of departmental line items. Many of the reductions were small, however, when totaled, saved the town a substantial amount of taxpayer money. We didn’t reduce any department’s budget to the point that it had a negative impact on that department. Nor did we make any cuts to any department’s provided services.

Do you think the current budget is too high, too low or just right?

During these difficult financial times we are faced with, the BOF passed the lowest budget increase in over ten years, while maintaining the entire town’s provided services. The Democrats made fiscally responsible decisions during the budget process and did not panic. As part of our budget decisions, we considered the following and more; the town department needs, the educational needs, the needs of the town residences, the financial needs of the town businesses, as well as our revenue stream and the economic environment. I believe the Democrats on the BOF passed a fiscally responsible budget, on the other hand, the Republicans voted against the budget because they wanted to increase the budget by an additional $500,000 to $ 750,000. If passed that would have almost doubled the budget increase that the Democrats approved. Is that being fiscally responsible in these difficult times? My answer is definitely NO.

What steps can the town take to continue to provide services while keeping taxes low?

During these economic times it is even more important to maintain our services for the residents of Southington. As an experienced member of the BOF I will continue to look within the town department and BOE budgets and prioritize needs versus wants. The BOF must continue to work with the Town Council and BOE to keep a watchful eye on spending while trying to achieve added revenue sources to keep Southington’s taxes low. We need to continue to be cognizant of what we are spending and take care of departments that provide essential services to the residents of our community such as Community Services, Southington Youth Services, Community Assistance, and Calendar House. Now is NOT the time to cut these services.

The Democrats on the BOF were able to accomplish our goal of maintaining the town’s provided services, while keeping taxes low. I would like to continue with this progress.

Joe Labieniec, Republican

17 Summit Street, Southington

Employer: Allied World Assurance Company

Education: Bristol Eastern High School, Marist College

SouthingtonRepublicans.org

Were there any cuts to the current budget that made you uncomfortable? If so, what were they?

Whether it’s a budget for your business, a budget for your town or a budget for your home, making cuts is a very difficult task. While often necessary, the process is never comfortable. That being said, it is up to the Town Manager and Department Heads to make those cuts as palatable as possible to the Town of Southington. By and large, this was done effectively for the current budget. For example, the largest cut was felt by the school system. While the cuts made were uncomfortable, the positive takeaway is that the Board of Education did a fantastic job in their efforts to reduce the impact those cuts had on the students of Southington. By everyone taking a team approach, not in words but rather in actions, any discomfort realized due to cuts can be significantly mitigated.

Do you think the current budget is too high, too low or just right?

I speak to both residents of Southington as well as friends and family living in other towns and cities across Connecticut.It goes without saying everyone has their own take on their respective budget, influenced greatly by how their town’s budget ultimately affects them, their family and possibly their business. While it is impossible for a budget to be perfect, I believe the Town of Southington budget is right at this time. Southington’s mill rate, in comparison to its demographic reference group, is in the middle. While improvements can always be made, there seems to be a general consensus among Town residents that the budget has not resulted in the deterioration of any services. It goes without saying that for subsequent budgets, every effort needs to be made to come as close to ‘just right’ as possible.

What steps can the town take to continue to provide services while keeping taxes low?

Admittedly optimistic, the goal should not be to simply continue providing services, but rather to improve and expand upon the services being offered. The extremely difficult trick is accomplishing this goal while at the same time keeping taxes low. Needless to say, this is much easier said than done. As cliché as it may sound, the Town needs to ‘think outside the box’. In these difficult economic times, the Town needs to be willing to put current processes, procedures and ways of doing things under the microscope. Cost saving incentives to employees of the Town, benchmarking our costs relative to other towns and the interaction with Department Heads at budget time are just some of the areas that can be studied in an attempt to gain efficiencies.

John J. Leary, Republican

244 Hart Street, Southington

Employer: Director of Global Consolidations Accounting Chemtura Corporation, Middlebury CT       

Education: Sacred Heart High School, Waterbury; Post College Waterbury, BS Marketing/Management, University of Hartford — MSPA Professional Accounting, Columbia University Graduate School of Business —   Executive Education Program.

Civic and professional associations: Eagle Scout and Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 3; BOPE Elks Lodge 265; St Dominic Church Finance Committee

SouthingtonRepublicans.org

Were there any cuts to the current budget that made you uncomfortable? If so, what were they?

There are many cuts that are uncomfortable. The objective is to balance the expenses to the tax revenue. In the current budget which runs from July 2009 to June 2010 the total expenditures approved were $42.5 Million for general government services and $76.3 million for education. The largest cuts this year were felt on the education side of the budget. However the Board of Education and school administrators did a fantastic job of managing these cuts with minimal impact to the education of our students.

Do you think the current budget is too high, too low or just right?

I feel the budgeted expenditures are just right and no increase in taxes is required. Southington’s mill rate is at a mid point as compared to other towns of similar size and demographics. In these challenging economic times the incomes of our taxpayers are at risk. Our seniors are seeing lower interest, dividends, and other investment income and our working families remain fearful of losing their jobs or facing reductions in compensation. Elected officials and town mangers need to engage in programs to not only eliminate waste in spending but also to increase the number of taxpayers by fostering a healthy environment that attracts and supports existing and new businesses.

What steps can the town take to continue to provide services while keeping taxes low?

Southington can engage all of its employees to participate in group effectiveness discussions that are used heavily in the private sector. At a basic level you bring employee teams into a room, engaged in discussions about what they do and why they do it. The actual workers meet and decide how to eliminate waste in their processes. They develop a diagram of their activities and then share it with others who have processes connected to theirs. Everyone collaborates and inefficiency and waste are revealed. Having the employees own their work processes will drive higher levels of common sense and fair play into their activities. These programs have proven successful in increasing job satisfaction and effectiveness at the same or lower costs. 

 

Timothy Theriault, Republican

Employer: Owner – Frisco Physical Therapy. 1999 – 2004

Education: B.S. physical therapy, Quinnipiac College; M.S. physical therapy, Texas Woman’s University

Were there any cuts to the current budget that made you uncomfortable? If so, what were they?

In challenging economic climates, you have to accept that hard choices (cuts) will have to be made. Just as individuals will have to sacrifice, or employ delayed gratification in their personal finances, so must the town. Our school system took the largest cut, which I look at as unfortunate, but not uncomfortable. Southington is very fortunate to have a school system administration and Board of Education that rose to the challenge and minimized the impact of the cuts on the students. I say this not only from a financial viewpoint, but also as a parent of a child at Derynoski School.

Do you think the current budget is too high, too low, or just right?

I feel the budget was appropriate. Over the last five years the town’s budgeting process had resulted in surplus. There are two ways to look at this. It can be argued that the surplus is taxpayer money that should not have been collected in the first place, or the surplus money can be used to assist the town in its future needs, whether it will help with development or manage unforeseen liabilities, such as unfunded mandates from the state.  As I believe it is important for individuals to have a surplus (savings), I believe it is important for our town to have the same. I also believe any surplus the town has, should have specific guidelines on what it can be used for, so it is not used as a general “slush fund.”

What steps can the town take to continue to provide services while keeping taxes low?

There are several things the town can do.  We need to continue the focus on attracting new business, such as large companies like the Lowe’s and Target that have been added and the BJ’s that is coming. The opening and growth of smaller businesses needs to be encouraged, as I am noticing an increase in the number of smaller commercial spaces becoming available. These sources of revenue offset the tax burden on our residents. From the financial aspect, we can look at using municipal benchmarking to compare Southington to other cities and towns to see where we can save money or improve efficiency.

James Bowes, Democrat

Education: MBA, Sacred Heart University; B.S. business administration Central Connecticut State University.

Employer: Comptroller/CFO Town of Wallingford

Civic and Professional associations: member, past-president, of the Government Finance Officers Association of Connecticut.

Were there any cuts to the budget that made you uncomfortable? If so, what were they?

This budget presented extraordinary challenges due to the fact that our nation and state are in the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. All elected officials and appointed governmental department heads needed to keep this in consideration when requesting funds for this year. The Board of Finance, along with these department heads, prioritized budgetary requests and funded the most essential ones, in order to maintain services at as minimal a tax increase as possible. As a result, services were maintained and no employees of the town or school board lost their job. Therefore, I agree with the decisions made regarding this budget.

Do you think the current budget is too high, too low or just right?

In my 19 years of experience with municipal budgeting, I’ve learned that there is no such thing as a perfect budget. The Democratic majority on the Board of Finance and Town Council adopted a budget that contained no increase for the general government and a 2.3% increase for the school system (after re-appropriating their surplus from the previous year). This responsible budget maintained all town and school services with the lowest tax increase in 10 years. In pandering for votes, the Republicans on the Board of Finance and Town Council tried to increase spending by as much as $1,000,000 more. This irresponsibility would have caused a much greater tax increase, which would have hurt all individual and business taxpayers during these tough economic times. Therefore, I believe this is the best budget we could have adopted under these current financial circumstances.

What steps can the Town take to continue to provide services while keeping taxes low?

The Town can only continue to provide services required by keeping a strong eye on finances. With that in mind, I would attempt the following:

n Continue to develop and implement fiscal policies to keep the Town’s bond rating strong. The Democratic led efforts to implement a debt and reserve policy helped the Town receive a credit upgrade, which has saved the Town over $1,000,000 in new bonds sold and older bonds currently being refunded.

n Develop a plan to prioritize capital spending in a way that spreads these costs over time to minimize the tax impact.

n Consolidate functions and management positions within the highway and park maintenance operations to increase efficiency and reduce operational costs for this function.