Griswold trails funding estimate

Griswold - Board of Finance members received some unwelcome news Thursday night about the current fiscal year.

Because of decreased tax collection and a reduction last summer in state aid, the town could finish the year needing to use about $257,000 from the undesignated fund account to balance the 2009-10 budget.

The deficit could be worse if the state does not give the town the rest of the Town Aid Road grant it originally pledged.

The information was shared after the board had finished hearing a presentation by selectmen on its proposed $6.63 million general government budget for 2010-11, a 3.77 percent decrease as proposed. The proposal does not yet include the affect on the budget now that the boards have decided to take out a possible two year low interest bond to pay the $450,000 settlement to Andrea Charron.

Despite finance board Chairman Steven Merchant Sr. saying everything is still under consideration, neither board reduced the hours of various positions in the building, health and planning department. It may be considered because the town will be joining the Uncas Health District in Norwich and the town sanitarian will be leaving Griswold to work for Uncas.

Finance board members meet next with the school board on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall.