WETHERSFIELD - The Town Council approved a 1.9 percent budget increase that includes a 0.42 percent raise for the school side last Thursday through a series of motions that saw Republicans dissenting on the desire for further reductions to the final $97.2 million figure.

       The budget-4.1 percent more for the town side when factoring in an 18 percent hike for debt service payments and 5.7 percent increase for MDC sewer charges-was deliberated on with the state’s own expenditures up in the air.

       â€�"What hurt us this year was the MDC costs and the second bond payment [for the Wethersfield High School renovation project],”” said Councilor Tony Martino.

       Without those factors, the town side increase comes to 2 percent.

       Councilors and Town Manager Jeff Bridges contended with shifting proposals related to municipal aid, prompting a school Board reduction from a 1.9 percent increase to the current 0.42 percent-courtesy of a combination of surpluses and self-imposed cuts.

       The overall 1.9 percent increase will mean $39 more in taxes for the average homeowner.

       â€�"It’s the lowest increase we’ve had in years, and we’ve addressed the state impacts,” said Mayor Paul Montinieri.

       But during budget sessions leading up to the vote, Republicans expressed a desire to flat fund the school budget and to get down to a town side increase of about $1.1 million-an amount that would encompass the MDC rate hikes and Wethersfield High School debt service payments.

       â€�"It’s [the state budget] going to get worse,” Hurley said over the phone the next day. â€�"I want to be in a position where we’re able to handle anything the state throws at us.”

       While flat funding is doable for the Board-it would have taken another $230,000 in cuts-Montinieri cautioned against what he referred to as a â€�"cosmetic” reduction that he said may not be entirely necessary given a far less dire situation faced by the town itself.

       â€�"That’s where I fear we swing the pendulum over to crisis management, from fiscal concern,” he said. â€�"We’re being asked to in negotiate in response to the state budget. The town is not in a budget crisis-we’re in a budget response mode based on the state’s piece of our pie.”

       As of the budget’s passage, Town Manager Jeff Bridges expects about $480,000 more in Education Cost Sharing (ECS) funding, while the town is slated to take a $413,000 hit in sales tax revenue sharing and $933,000 less in car tax grants.

       Another $85,000 will come back to the town for motor vehicle Mill Rate supplement, with the legislature voting to raise the car tax cap to 37 Mills.

       The town was able to avoid a last resort list that includes the closing of a municipal pool, moving the transition academy to the Nature Center instead of the envisioned Silas Deane Highway location, and eliminating an SRO position.