Portland Voters Narrowly Approve Budget in Light Turnout

Turnout was light in Monday's referendum, but voters approved the $28.2 million dollar spending plan on a vote of 374-335, a margin of just 39 votes. Just a little more than 6,000 people were eligible to cast ballots.

First selectwoman Susan Bransfield was present as the ballots were electronically tallied by election moderators. She says she "was very pleased" the votes came in with more "yesses" in the plus column. The next step, says Bransfield, is when the full Board of Selectmen will meet Wednesday, May 18, to formally set the mill rate for the new fiscal year. 

The budget calls for an increase of 0.35 mills, bringing the tax rate to 28.15 mills. It would also include a five-year lease of about $850,000 to buy replacement vehicles, such as police cruisers, and a new roof for the Portland Library. The lease plan generated the most criticism, and two Replublican selectmen voted against the plan. The Democratic majority secured the lease plan, but the panal also cut another  $89,000 before the budget went to the voters.

Andrea Alfano, a member of the board of education, was also on hand for the tally of the voting.

"It's good news," said Alfano, explaining a rejection "would have been very difficult" to deal with.

The board of education and superintendent Sally Doyen produced an $18.1 million dollar spending plan with a zero percent increase. She said the teachers union was "very helpful" when members agreed to concessions, making the zero increase possible.

The new plan allows all school programs to continue at their present level.

But Bransfield is cautious and concerned about the budget process still unfolding in Hartford.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy is trying to wrestle $2 billion in concessions from state unions over two years. The concessions are needed to complete the $40.1 billion budget approved by the Democratic controlled legislature last week. If the effort fails, the Governor and his budget chief warn there would be a "Plan B" to make up for the concessions, including almost 4,700 layoffs, along with a menu of other cuts, with many of those expected to reduce state aid to cities and towns.

Bransfield says the town of Portland belongs to two organizations representing and lobbying for the interests of towns. One of them, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, issued a press release Monday, saying the municipal and program cuts in Plan B would "have a "devastating impact" on towns and cities. The statement from CCM chief Jim Finley says the cuts being discussed could "decimate services, and result in "massive employee and teacher layoffs."

Bransfield says if the governor's contingency plan went forward, the Portland Board of Selectmen would have to consider a further revision of the mill rate, and possibly look at freezing certain spending items. But if the state unions make a deal with the governor, Bransfield says she's been advised there might be some additional state aid of about $78,000 for the town. She says that amount could enable a slight reduction in the Portland tax rate.  

The meeting next Wednesday will be held at Portland Library.