This has not been a normal year, however, as differences between Town Council members about what should be in the town’s 2017-18 fiscal year spending plan have resulted in a pair of mayoral vetoes and no sign of talks renewing before next month.
The lack of a budget means the councilors will have to meet early in the morning of July 3 to pass an appropriation to keep things running properly.
Town Council members opted not to vote on a proposed budget at its last special meeting on June 19, all but ending any change for the town’s top board to have a budget in place before Saturday, which marks the start of the new fiscal year.
With no budget in place, Stratford will operate under the current budget, though it will have to account for some increases to pay for contractual obligations on the municipal side and with the Board of Education salaries, roughly $6 million.
Daponte said Monday that the Town Council will meet on the morning of July 3 to vote on an appropriation equivalent to last year’s budget plus the contractual obligations.
Daponte said the vote cannot take place until after the new fiscal year starts.
“The town has to send out tax bills.” Daponte is holding out hope that the council can reach the consensus it needs to pass a budget before Saturday, but it remains unlikely.
Daponte said the two passed budgets would have “put the town on a bad financial course.” “We tried very hard in our last meeting through the caucuses and private meetings to come to a consensus,” Daponte said.
“I’m hopeful we can come to consensus once the tax bills are out there and there are increases in them,” Daponte said, adding that the mill rate would be higher because the six hardliners didn’t want to work with others.
Manus said Tuesday that she is “feeling very disappointed” that no budget is in place, though she places blame on Daponte, Harkins and three other council members.