Residents will have a chance to comment on the proposed city budget for 2014-15 at a public hearing Thursday, April 3 at Milford City Hall.
The public hearing starts at 7 p.m.
The mill rate is expected to jump 5.75% under the 2014-15 spending plan as it stands now. But Mayor Ben Blake said he hopes that number may come down as the budget process continues.
At this stage of the budget process, taxes are expected to rise $329 on the typical Milford home with a market value of $311,070. For the typical homeowner, that’s an additional $27 a month. That represents a mill rate increase of 1.51 mills, from 26.28 to 27.79 mills.
When the Board of Finance completed its part of the budget process, tweaking numbers and voting for a finance board-approved spending plan, several members said they thought the projected tax increase was too high. Chairman Brian Lema said he hoped it was the “worst case scenario.”
Mayor Blake said he put a freeze on spending for the rest of this budget year in hopes of transferring additional money to the 2014-15 budget to offset taxes.
The $199.35 million budget proposal marks a $5.3 million increase in spending over the current year, which is a 2.74% hike.
Blake has said much of that is “unavoidable.” Increases in pension contributions, debt payments and health care costs, plus wage increases, account for $5 million of the increased costs, he said.
Residents can offer comments on the proposed city and school spending plans at the public hearing. The city budget proposal can be found on the city website at ci.milford.ct.us, and the school board’s proposal can be found on the school website, Milforded.org.
In the weeks following the public hearing, the Board of Aldermen will meet with individual city departments to discuss their spending plans. Following is the board’s meeting schedule, with all meetings at 7 p.m. at Milford City Hall:
Thursday, April 10
Probate Court
Registrar of Voters
Veterans Ceremony and Parade Commission
Housing Code Board of Appeals
Flood and Erosion Board
Tree Commission
Conservation Commission
Department of Permitting and Land Use
Zoning Board of Appeals
Milford Government Access Television
Community Development
Economic Development Commission
Public Library
Board of Finance
Park, Beach and Recreation Commission
Recreation Department
Personnel Department
Pension Board
Civil Service Commission
Health Department
Health Services (VNA)
Education Health Services/School Nurses
Law Department
Ethics Commission
Mayor’s Office
General Expenses
Board of Aldermen
City Clerk
Elections
Thursday, April 17
Beth El Shelter
Council on Aging
Boys and Girls Club
Veterans Graves
Milford Flotilla
Historic District Commission
Historic District II
Milford Progress, Inc.
Cemetery Association
Housatonic River Estuary Committee
Harbor Commission
Golf Course
Human Services Department
Animal Control
Fine A rts Council
Bridges Community Support
Regional Mental Health Board
Borough of Woodmont
Transit A uthority
Fire Department
Lights, Hydrants, Water
Civil Preparedness
C-Med
Monday, April 28
Management Information Systems
Police Department
Finance Department
Board of Assessment Appeals
Public Works Office
Highway/ Parks
Building Maintenance
Engineering Department
General Garage
Solid Waste
Wastewater
Sewer Commission
Public Debt Service
Employee Benefits
Insurance and Bonds
Claims and Refunds
Benefit and Salary Reserve
Private School Textbook
Unallocated Contingency
Education Audit Fees
School Debt
Employee Benefits – Non Teaching
Education – Health Insurance Contribution
Wednesday, April 30
Education Operations
The board has reserved the following dates to vote on a city budget. All meetings are reserved for City Hall at 7 p.m.: Wednesday, May 7; Monday, May 12; Thursday, May 15; Wednesday, May 21 and Thursday, May 22.