School Budget Issues Dominate Goshen Board of Finance Public Hearing

05/14/25

Present: Chair Ned Bixler, Vice Chair Bob Valentine, Members; Scott Tillman, James Korner, Russell Murdock, Alternates; Patrick Reilly and Carl Contadini

The public hearing was a detailed discussion of various financial matters concerning the town’s budget, employee wages, and the complications related to Region 20's budget overspending.

The meeting commenced with an introduction by Chairman Bixler, explaining the purpose of the gathering: “We want to know what your concerns are, what your thoughts are, what your questions are. There's no vote tonight. This is just purely information.” The board emphasized the complexity of setting the mill rate due to unresolved issues with the school budget and unexpected financial obligations from Region 20.

Henrietta Horvay opened the floor with concerns about clerical wages. She stated, “I just think the clerks on some of the boards should be given a bigger increase instead of like 30 cents an hour.”  Chairman Bixler explained, “Each employee is evaluated and their increase is based on their evaluation. It's not up to this board to review the evaluations.”

Attention was drawn to the town’s budget constraints, exacerbated by Region 20's financial mismanagement. An unidentified participant urged, “I am lobbying and I'm asking that you guys go through that due diligence because money is gone and accountability needs to happen.” This sentiment was echoed by others who called for a forensic audit to uncover the financial discrepancies.

Bixler outlined the challenges faced due to Region 20’s overspending: “Region 6 overspending their budget by 388,000... and then there's the 1.9 million that Region 20 has decided that they would spend in current fiscal year over the 41 million and change that they were appropriated.”

The conversation revealed frustration with the lack of accountability and transparency in Region 20’s financial operations. A participant noted, “We're at our wits ends... we need to know what happened and why.” The board acknowledged the need for a forensic audit, although it was noted that such an audit would be costly and time-consuming.

There was a consensus among the board members and attendees that while the town's internal budget was carefully crafted, external factors, particularly the issues with Region 20, were creating significant financial strain.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further investigate the financial discrepancies within Region 20 and to work collaboratively with neighboring towns to address these issues. The board agreed to discuss the possibility of a forensic audit in the upcoming meetings, recognizing its potential to provide clarity and accountability.

Board of Finance meeting 5.28.25

(Editor’s note: The meeting began with approval of the minutes from the previous meeting.  However, the audio from the recording of that portion of the meeting was not working so our piece below covers the portion of the meeting after that)

Present: Chair Ned Bixler, Vice Chair Bob Valentine, Members; Scott Tillman, James Korner, Russell Murdock, Paul Collins.  Alternates; Patrick Reilly and Carl Contadini

The meeting had discussions surrounding payment schedules for regional debts. Carl Contadini clarified the distinction between different regions' financial obligations, specifically mentioning, "Towns are thinking about payment over time rather than one year." This is in reference to the $2.7 million debt for region 20, which is a pressing concern over the next three years. Meanwhile, the attendees were informed that decisions regarding region six's financial strategy remain in deliberation, as asserted by First Selectman Todd Carusillo, "They're still talking."

Valentine expressed concerns over potential liabilities, emphasizing the importance of planning for future obligations. He warned, "If we do not take those into account, we may find ourselves needing to do a supplemental tax," highlighting the precarious position the town might face without proper financial planning.

Discussions also covered the potential impact of setting a new mill rate. Reilly suggested maintaining a $2 million fund balance, proposing a 16.7 mill rate, which he argued provides a buffer: "It gives you a $2 million fund balance." This led to a broader debate on fiscal strategy, with Robert Valentine weighing the risks, "What's worse for our taxpayers for us to set a mill rate taking into account that these expenditures are going to have to be paid?"

The topic of pension liabilities was also prominent. Contadini questioned the fiscal health of the pension fund, "Are we at 70%, 60%, 80%?"  Carusillo responded, "It's only around 47%," highlighting the underfunded status of the pension and the need for ongoing budget appropriations to meet obligations.

The conversation returned to setting the mill rate, with Valentine advocating for a cautious approach, "I'm not comfortable with anything more than a 2.5 mil increase, which is huge." He reminded the board of past financial prudence and how it had served the community well, stating, "Last year at this time we were looking at just under $700,000 savings in our school assessment."

Valentine's emphasized the board's responsibility to balance current financial pressures with long-term fiscal stability. He acknowledged the challenge of raising the mill rate but stressed its necessity, "If we do have to raise it 2.5 mills this year, I know it's no consolation when you get that extra bill. But at the end of the day, it's a 1.1 from where we were two years ago."

Murdock supported the cautious approach, expressing skepticism about future district actions, "I hate to say it, but it has to be 16.7 or something close to that because I don't trust them." His sentiment echoed a broader concern about unpredictable district financial management.

The board debated potential mill rate outcomes, with Bixler presenting a slightly more conservative approach: "I think we don't have clarity on what's coming... If we keep the mill at two, we only go up two mill, one and a half million dollars indicated." However, he acknowledged the likelihood of needing future adjustments, "Next year is going to be an increase. It would take a miracle not to be."

Ultimately, the board reached a consensus to set the mill rate at 16.7. The Motion by Korner and  seconded by Tillmann to set the mill rate to 16.7 passed with Valentine, Tillman, Murdock and Korner voting yes while Ned Bixler and Paul Collins voted no.

The meeting concluded with an acknowledgment of the challenges faced and the effort required to maintain fiscal responsibility in the face of uncertainty. "We have to be responsible. We've got to be able to pay the bills," Bixler emphasized, reinforcing the board's commitment to sound financial management for the town's future.