Democrats First Selectman Phil Miller and Norman Needleman approved the spending package, while Republican Vincent Pacileo cast the dissenting vote.
Miller described the proposed budget as "responsible and efficient," saying Essex citizens want the issues addressed. "They don't want us to bury our heads in the sand."
He added that he could have kept the government budget down around a 4 percent increase, but it is an election year and people might think it was just "gimmickry." The mill rate is expected to go up 1/2 mill during the next fiscal year.
Including the proposed education budgets (Essex Elementary School and the town's share for Regional District 4 and the Supervision District), proposed spending is $16.8 million, an increase of $759,473, or 4.73 percent, over the current year, which is factored into the mill rate.
"The proposed budget provides the opportunity for infrastructure improvements, which have been deferred over the past several years," Miller said. "The board of selectmen understands that the proposed increase to provide for road improvements is considerable. However, after due consideration of the compromises that were made in the past in favor of increased educational costs, the selectmen feel it is necessary and essential to maintain the town's infrastructure."
Pacileo said he was "disappointed" with the more than 8 percent increase in the proposed government budget, especially after Miller had set the parameters for fiscally austere and modest budgets. "It doesn't match the rhetoric," Pacileo said.
"Most people's incomes aren't going up that much," Pacileo continued, adding that over the course of the last three years the budget has continued to increase. "That's a trend that concerns me."
Pacileo said his concerns had nothing to do with "electioneering. That's not my intent," noting that the upward turn the budget is taking is not the way he would have handled it. "A number of the items in the budget are up by a significant percent."
Proposed budget changes include:
* Capital and Sinking Funds: $148,499 net increase, which includes funding for road reconstruction, a backhoe and sander.
* Wage Increases: $61,374, or 4.45 percent, providing for cost of living, longevity, step movement, and position upgrades. There are no new positions projected to be created for 2005-06.
* Highway Department: $60,311 increase, which includes increases for wages, overtime, sanding, salting and snow removal, as well as the costs associated with maintaining the mandated Stormwater II program.
* Fringe Benefits: $59,836 increase. The health insurance premium increase is about 6 percent. The proposed budget increase provides for greater participation. Social Security has been increased as it has been under budget for the past few years. Pension fund deposits have also increased.
* Libraries: $48,000 increase. The board of selectmen is recommending increasing the town's funding to the Essex Library Association to approximately 50 percent of its operating budget. The board recognizes that the increase to the Essex Library is considerable; however, the current board is keeping a commitment made by prior administrations to incrementally increase the library's funding. The Ivoryton Library figure has also been increased to reflect additional support for salaries and projects as well as increased operating hours. The town has historically funded approximately 70 percent of the Ivoryton Library operating costs and will continue to do so.
* Notes Payable: $30,137 increase for the Quarry Bond Anticipation Note.
* Parks and Recreation: $19,335 increase, which provides for the operational costs for the swimming and recreational area for the upcoming summer at Viney Hill Brook Park.
* Treasurer's Office: $18,063 increase to implement recommendations made by the town's auditor to provide for increased hours for the elected treasurer and to upgrade to a professional accountant from a bookkeeper.
* Police Services: $14,024 increase, which includes an increase for wages and the increased cost of gasoline and maintenance for cruisers.
* Fire Department: $13,848 increase, reflecting higher utility and insurance costs.
* Central Services: $13,483 increase includes higher fuel and electricity costs. The budget also reflects the elimination of a custodial position, which has been replaced by an outside cleaning service.
* Zoning Commission: $12,046 increase, which includes implementation of a 30-hour-per-week secretary/administrative assistant.
* Assorted Budget Reductions: $96,467. Several departments, boards, commissions and debt service realized net budget reductions, including interest ($29,106), economic development commission ($15,818), sanitary waste commission ($15,064), general insurance ($14,000), planning commission ($8,675), public restrooms ($8,250), fire marshal ($3,786), building official ($1,418), and civil defense ($350).
A major change in the budget presentation for this year is the elimination of separate budgets for such items as political subdivisions, contingency fund, revaluation, postage and miscellaneous, Miller said. Pursuant to new accounting and reporting guidelines, these budgets have been absorbed by an appropriate budget. For instance, the contingency fund is now found in the board of finance budget, and payments to political subdivisions are found in social services or the appropriate department or area.
Another major change, according to Miller, is the clarification of capital expenditures by placing all sinking funds within the capital budget rather than the individual departments.
The operations of town hall have been renamed central services and more accurately reflect the costs to operate town hall, Miller said. The data are arranged to permit a comparison of actual expenditures for current-year operations with the recommendations for 2005-06. The budget presentation also includes revenue estimates and proposed education budget costs.
The spending plan was presented to the board of finance last Thursday.
"I hope the board of finance will reduce the budget or return it to us [for revisions]," Pacileo said. "That's their call. That is what they are there for."
Taxpayers will have the opportunity to have their say at a public hearing on Thursday, April 14, at 8 p.m. at town hall. The annual budget meeting will take place on Monday, May 9, also at 8 p.m. at town hall.