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EMS Funding Plan Will Not Ask Residents to Shoulder the Burden with New Taxes

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The total cost is $1.8 million dollars. Yes, that’s correct. For a functional, emergency management multi-story building.


To pay, the taxpayers will not see an increase in the mill rate. The taxpayers will not pay a special assessment. The taxpayers will not pay on any forward-going basis, only from the sums that have been collected by the town and remain in our “savings account,” based on the past and prudent financial management of the budget.


Let me explain: the total cost is $4,180,944 all-in. But, you ask, why then is the referendum ballot requesting less? It is less than total cost because monies are readily available that reduce the obligation. Our EMS raised and will contribute $821,792. The town utilized state and federal grants, including ARPA, for a $407,539 reduction. And, the town interjected $20,000 seed money at onset.


By the math, the referendum amount is $2,951.613 or the total cost of the project after the moneys above. Rounding errors are mine alone. But why is the cost to the town projected at $1.8 million dollars or less than the sum slated for approval by town referendum?

$1.8 million dollars is an expected cost, a sum expected to be taken from the Undesignated Fund Balance of $ 7.1 million. Note: The Board of Finance could appropriate MORE than $1.8 million dollars, though that figure is current based on the analysis below. Note: Our Undesignated Fund balance earns market interest, which moneys can further reduce costs.

If the sum due is more than the $1.8 million, the moneys can still come from this account not from current or forward going burdens on the residents. But, you see, I have buried the lead. Or kept your attention, depending on how you frame the question.


Why is the sum $1.8 million? In addition to the moneys received by the town specified

above, the town will be reimbursed $118,165 more from Local Capital Improvement Program (LoCIP) monies and will have $900,000 from LoCIP and $300,000 from the State of Connecticut. We, as a town, will not shoulder the burden of decaying infrastructure alone.

Counting those funds, the outlay is $1.8 million. Think of the inflationary pressures: This project will never cost less than the $2.9 million referendum estimate even if we never receive an additional penny. It will never cost the citizens of Easton less than $1.8 million expected from an existing account.


Vote YES!


Maureen Williams

Easton

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