A Significant Effort on Budget

The Madison Property Owners Association (MPOA) Board of Directors recommends that voters approve the Madison town budget for 2010-2011. We do believe that by reducing the town portion of the budget to a 1.36-percent increase over last year, the Board of Finance has made a significant effort to rationalize the budget. Overall the town and education budgets have increased by only 2.67 percent, the lowest since 1998.

Significant cuts since the second failed referendum include elimination of the senior services director position, transference of $75,000 from the Open Spaces Reserve to help fund the Griswold purchase, and reduction of the LoCap reserve fund by $100,000 and some $25,000 more from the town operating budget. In addition, these LoCap projects have been dropped: the Daniel Hand High School Sidewalk Improvement and the Salt Shed anddrainage projects at the Town Garage site. Also, the Academy Street Athletic Field and parking for the new Senior Center Project has been dropped in favor of inclusion into the Senior Center Project.

We are somewhat reluctant in our support because the LoCap projects dropped represent some $600,000, but the overall LoCap budget remains down by only $100,000. We are pleased that the two percent salary increase for non-union, non-supervisory employees has been retained.

During the review of the 2010-2011 budget, MPOA has uncovered several practices that do not seem to fit into the concept of responsible budgeting in a down economy. In the coming year, MPOA will be making positive proposals to town officials to audit, review, and redefine the budget process to meet the challenges of the 21st-century economy. To fulfill its mission to increase awareness of town government, MPOA will advocate for the kind of transparency required by an informed and educated public and as promised by town candidates.

Dick Duer
First Vice President
Madison Property Owners Association