GOP Progress Report
TAMED Property Taxes!
• Responsible for one of the lowest tax increases in 25 years (1.1%) for 2014-2015 !
• Responsible NO tax increase (0%) for 2015-2016 ! (The only Town in CT to boast that accomplishment.)
Low tax increases all while meeting town needs for ...
- Public Safety
- The school system, one of the best in Connecticut (and the USA)
- Municipal services
- Recreation programs, including programs for Seniors
- Funding Pension and Post Employement Benefit obligations
- Long overdue/deferred maintenance to school and municipal buildings
- Stormwater relief in Meadowbrook Manor
SAVED The Town of Brookfield $3.6 Million by:
- Refinancing existing long term debt
- Leveling School Spending Commensurate with Declining Student Enrollment & Teacher retirement incentive.
- Reducing Employee Health Insurance Costs by Converting to a Self-Insured Plan
- Saved $2 million in first two years
- Built a reserve for excess claims protection
Worked Hard for You Bringing in $ millions in Grant Funds Increasing Quality of Life:
- LOTCIP Grant applied for and received: $797,000
- STEAP Grant contract modification bringing in an additional: $290,000
- New STEAP Grant applied for: $500,000 (Award pending)
- FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant for $2,000,000 for Meadowbrook Manor (Award pending)
- CHFA Critcal Needs Funding of $435,000 for Brooks Quarry sewer system repair and upgrade.
INCREASED Brookfield Tax Revenues $1.7 Million by:
- Implement an innovative “Jumpstart” Economic Growth Initiative to secure a $66M increase in taxable property from new development
- Created a new Developer Tax Incentive Policy including codifying this in a Town Ordinance.
- Implemented a new Development Services Team with a new Economic Development Commission Website
- Monthly meeting help coordinate the Planning, Zoning, Wetlands, Building, & WPCA departments into a unified business friendly culture
IMPROVED Community Quality of Life in Brookfield by:
- Completing Cardigan Park Construction – On Time & On Budget !
- Town Park/Beach – Construction Started in December 2014. Completed 8 months later in July 2015
- Forging Ahead with the Still River Greenway Project – Funding Proposed & Approved
- Created the First Successful "Rediscover the 4 Corners" Annual Block Party
- Engineering Plans approved for flood prevention in Meadowbrook Manor (Grant award pending)
- Completed Southern Federal Road Water Line – Under Budget !
- Took the initiative to form the Safety/Security Task Group.
INTEGRITY RESTORED - UNCOVERED & RESOLVED Serious Issues from Prior Administration(s):
- $1.2 Million in illegal school overspending and illegal use of town fund balance
- (Alleged theft of School resources is being promulgated through the courts by State procecutors)
- $235,000 in unauthorized town contractual obligations
- Unmet Insurance coverage obligations
- Unmonitored Town Credit Card purchasing (NO pre-purchase approval) has ceased.
- Purchasing system is replaced with a Monitored Town-Wide Purchase Order/Process System (REQUIRED pre-purchase approval)
- Monitored Town-Wide Purchase Order/Process System (REQUIRED pre-purchase approval).
- Still working to unify accounting systems so schools and town are using the same software for efficiency and ease of reporting.
INTEGRITY ASSURED - Proposed and Implemented Important Governance and Management Changes:
- Charter revision - Bifricated budget referendum separating Town and Education budget votes
- Policies
- Expense reimbursement policy
- Town vehicle use policy
- Debt management policy
- Fund Balance policy (In Progress)
- Ordinances
- Business Investment Incentive - Assessment Increase Deferral (To assist businesses new and expanding)
- OPEB Trust establishment
- Blighted building and properties (updated)
- Salons and Spas (Updated)
- Noise (update in progress)
- Participated in implementation of regional planning agencies.
- Plan of Conservation and Development Updated in 2015 (Last issued in 2002 (Was due in 2012))
- Housing Study - Completed 2014
- Southern Federal Road Improvment Plan completed
Brookfield RTC – REAL Results & Leadership for Brookfield!
This is missed since the GOP has been out of the First Selectman office.