Board of Finance Contemplates Tax Hikes Related to Region 20 Costs

12/18/24
Goshen’s Board of Finance reviewed and received financial reports submitted by Debbie Franklin for November 2024. Robert Valentine questioned why the Public Works Department’s Equipment Lease Budget was 263.21% or $4,750 over budget. He assumed that the town got rid of equipment leases. First Selectman Todd Carusillo was unable to provide an answer regarding the Lease Budget but said he will look into it. The Board then reviewed and received Tax Collector Rebecca Juchert-Derungs’ November 2024 report.
Carusillo reported that Region 20 cannot assume the debt of Region 6 and will have to either rebond the debt themselves or get a loan for $1.9 million. Carusillo suggested Region 20 will have to rebond the debt as Region 20 is a new entity and would have difficulty receiving such an expansive loan as they have no credit history. In terms of Region 20 making cuts to lower the school district’s debt, Carusillo reported that $600,000 worth of cuts were made in September and $326,217 worth of cuts were made in December. (See BOE news p.7 for more information) The December cuts brought the school district's debt down to $1.77 million. Carusillo predicted that by Saturday, February 1st, Region 20 will be out of money due to overspending on structural renovations, updates, and other purchases for Plumb Hill Middle School and Lakeview High School.
Valentine expressed frustration over Region 20’s spending and Acting Superintendent Kristen Della Volpe’s lack of communication with the Board of Finance. The Board has only been receiving information about Region 20’s finances from local newspapers. “I tend not to be as critical [of the] school board because the school board members rely on their hired staff, financial and also superintendent, to be competent. I'm wondering if they are because the goalposts keep moving,” said Valentine. “But at the end of the day, this board here has, no matter what they do, even if they convince the townspeople of Litchfield, Warren, Morris, and Goshen that they need another 2.1 million dollars or whatever it may be, this board has to come up with the money for the town of Goshen.” Valentine expects that if Region 20 spending continues at its current rate, Goshen’s mill rate may have to be increased by two or three mills in 2025. Goshen’s current mill rate is 14.2. Valentine called for the Chairperson of Region 20’s Board of Education Tiffany Parkhouse or Superintendent Volpe to meet with the Board of Finance to discuss Region 20’s spending and how it will impact Goshen as “our fund balance is eviscerated by this foolishness.” He further suggested that the Board’s only option would be to significantly raise taxes. “Quite frankly, were I still First Selectman, we’d have a spending freeze in the Town of Goshen right now”, he said, so as to preserve any finances the town currently has in preparation to pay off Region’s debt. Carusillo further reported that Goshen will have to pay $84,087.20 to Litchfield for Region 6 debt. Based on a Region 20 special assessment, Goshen would be responsible for 21% of Region 20’s debt or about $371,700. Valentine urged Region 20 Board of Education member Ashley Hall Daddona to have someone from the Region 20 administration come and speak to the Board of Finance about the district’s finances.
Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman Seth Breakell addressed $5,000 allocated for the Fire Company Appreciation Dinner in September. The Torrington Country Club’s bill for the event totaled $4,674 but Breakell solicited donations from local businesses to collect about another $5,000. After the event was concluded there was $1,262.13 left over from the solicited donations. Breakell intended to use the remaining fund to purchase 60 $20 gas cards for the holiday season for each active member of the fire department but he was unable to purchase the cards before the holidays arrived. James Korner then motioned to spend the town's money on the gas cards and to reapply the money that was donated against the dinner. Scott Tillmann abstained as he is a commissioner for the Goshen Fire Company. The motion carried.
Valentine asked the First Selectman whether the Woodridge Lake Property Owners’ Association had paid the Town for their sedimentation projects of were still disputing it. Carusillo responded: “They sent us $1795.” (Note: The actual amount was $1728.45.) Valentine asked if the Town has conducted projects not part of plans contracted by the Woodridge Lake Property Owners' Association to reduce sedimentation and phosphorus in the lake, for which the Town is seeking reimbursement. Carusillo was unsure but will look into it with the Public Works Department. Carusillo then claimed that the Association hasn’t paid the Town of Goshen since 2017, despite the earlier acknowledgement of a payment of $1728 received in 2024. (Note: The Association previously provided proof of payments totaling $20,000 in 2019 and met several times in 2024 with Town representatives to settle accounts. Once disqualified charges unrelated to sedimentation were removed, and payments to date were credited, a balance of $1728.45 remained, which was invoiced by the Town and paid in full by the Association in July of last year.)