Community Corner

Public Hearing on Budget Tonight

Recommendations from the Board of Finance total about $67 million -- $40.88 million on the education side and $26.1 million on the town side.

 

The town of Bethel will hold a public hearing Tuesday night on the recommended 2013-14 budget at 7:30 at the Bethel High School auditorium. No vote will be taken at the meeting, but anyone entitled to vote at the Annual Town Budget  meeting is invited to make written and oral comments concerning the budget.

The Board of Finance-recommended budget is just over $67 million -- $40.88 million on the education side and $26.1 million on the town side. Last month, Superintendent Kevin Smith took to Youtube to advocate for requests, including an additional school psychologist, a part-time reading specialist and an NJROTC instructor.  Finance officials recommended a cut down from $40.94 million.

Find out what's happening in Bethelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"We work hard to plan a budget that balances achieving our vision and not overburdening our local taxpayers," said Smith in the video.

(Click here to see an infographic breaking down the numbers of the 2013-14 town budget.)

Find out what's happening in Bethelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker said he disagreed with Board of Finance recommendations cutting subsidies for non-governmental organizations -- including Meals on Wheels, Ability Beyond Disability, New Opportunities and the Women's Center.

Knickerbocker's original recommendation for non-governmental services was $17,883. At a March 26 Board of Finance meeting, officials proposed reducing recommended funding to $6,570, which failed twice before members voted to recommend cutting funding entirely. Finance officials were unavailable for comment at present.


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