Beacon Falls budget proposal increases spending 2.8%

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BEACON FALLS — The boards of Selectmen and Finance have decided that 2.8 percent is the budget increase it will bring to the public.

The 2.8 percent equals approximately a $164,000 increase in municipal spending. The town’s current budget is close to $19.2 million, of which $5.9 million is municipal spending.

The proposed budget will be brought to a public hearing at 7 p.m. April 10 at the fire house.

According to First Selectman Gerard Smith the biggest expenses in the budget are paying for planned capital improvements.

Two of the capital projects that the town needs to put into the budget for this year are the repairs to Blackberry Hill Road and finishing the streetscape, he said.

Blackberry Hill Road will cost the town approximately $150,000 and finishing the streetscape will cost the town approximately $45,000.

Smith explained that these projects were started by the previous administration, though it now falls to him to find the funds to pay for them.

Smith said that the proposed budget will go towards helping to balance the books on these projects. Smith explained right now the town is obligated to pay the contractors nearly $200,000 that it does not have set aside for these projects.

Smith explained another capital project that the town needs to take care of this year is refurbishing the ambulance.

The ambulance is supposed to be replaced every 10 years. The town’s current ambulance is 14 years old.

Although the town will not be purchasing a new ambulance this year, it will be refurbishing the one it owns to bring it up to current standards. The refurbishing will cost the town approximately $130,000.

The town’s other big expense this year is the need to create and implementing a waste water treatment plan.