NEWINGTON - Republicans voted ‘no’ and Democrats were somewhat reluctant, but a $113.5 million budget that raises Newington’s Mill Rate to 35.8 passed the Town Council last Tuesday night, April 21.

       The budget represents a 3 percent increase in the Mill Rate.

       Republican councilors David Nagel and Beth DelBuono voiced concerns regarding the property tax burden on residents, expressing their intent to vote against the proposed budget. The amount of revenue to be raised by taxes will go up $2.7 million, or 3.1 percent, this year.

       Democrats agreed--members of both parties have been raising the alarm regarding yearly tax increases that they say are unsustainable given the lack of additional revenue and a stagnant Grand List. Newington also has the lowest household median income out of the towns listed in reference Group D, while, as of the start of this year’s budgetary process, 9.9 percent of that figure goes toward property taxes.

       â€�"I think I understand what they [the Republicans] are saying,” said Deputy Mayor Clark Castelle before the final vote was taken. â€�"I’m not happy with a 3 percent increase. We knock on doors and people burst into tears because they can’t afford a zero percent increase.”

       Meanwhile, councilors are trying to maintain critical services while moving the town’s school system forward, and the process is always a push to strike a balance between addressing those areas and the aforementioned concerns, said Newington Mayor Stephen Woods.

       â€�"I’m not happy with where we are,” Woods said. â€�"It’s a difficult process and it becomes harder. We have to find a way to bring in more money because teachers will get raises, MDC costs will go up and utilities will go up. It’s a fact.

       Had the Council’s version of the budget failed to pass, Town Manager John Salomone’s proposal would fall into effect, negating a compromise with the Board of Education for $588,000 of town Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funds that have been set aside for school initiatives.

       Much of the budget discussion centered on the gap between Salomone’s proposed 2.6 percent school budget increase, and the Board’s requested 4.8 percent.

       Even with the CIP compromise, the Board still had more than $1 million to reduce from its budget, prompting Superintendent of Schools Bill Collins to warn 71 non-tenure teachers of the possibility of layoffs.

       â€�"At no time was there ever a possibility of that many being laid off,” said Board Chairman Mark Finkelstein during last Tuesday’s meeting.

       Early estimates projected the possibility of around 10. Administrators volunteered for a pay freeze, and the Board looked at a slew of other options for reductions in an effort to avoid the loss of any positions.

       The resignation of one teacher and the last minute retirements of two others helped, and Collins later said that the Board could avoid any layoffs. The next night they reduced their budget by $1.5 million to reflect the Council’s version.

       Finkelstein thanked Woods and the rest of the Council for meeting the Board halfway.

       â€�"It really is much appreciated,” he said. â€�"While it wasn’t satisfactory to everyone, it helped us move forward.”