Mayor
Scott Slifka Dec
5, 2008
Town of
50
Dear
Mayor Slifka;
The West Hartford Taxpayers Association (WHTA)
encourages the Town Council to make a policy decision now regarding the
budget increase for the coming year. At
a recent meeting the West Hartford Taxpayers Association approved this
motion: “The WHTA recommends that the
Maintain
Existing Services & Programs: The WHTA recommends that the Town Council and
Board of Education require Staff to develop a budget that maintains compatible
services and programs. This will not be
easy and may require changes in work rules, salary & benefits changes,
reduced manpower, scheduling changes, greater use of outside contractors,
greater cooperation between departments and additional work for remaining employees.
Union
Involvement: The WHTA encourages
the Town Council to invite Union Bargaining Units to participate with
the review of programs that impact their members. The Union Bargaining Units can be proactive
and helpful with modifying work rules, allowing new employees to be hired at
different salary and benefits levels, along with other positive suggestions
that leave existing programs and services.
Since Union Bargaining Unit negotiations are ongoing, this is the time
for the Town Council, Board of Education and Staff to work on the necessary
changes required to reduce costs.
Council
Involvement: The WHTA encourages the Town Council and Board of
Education to have a “Reduce Expenses Mind Set”.
The emphasis for the next two years should be: How
can we reduce expenses? One
suggestion is for the Town Council and Board of Education to include on each
Meeting Agenda a time to review “Cost Reduction Suggestions”. In addition, taxpayer suggestions should be
solicited and considered. Making the
tough program and services decisions will be very difficult, so starting early
with a firm statement of "no increase in taxpayer revenues" will
allow the Town Council and Board of Education time to review all suggestions.
The WHTA will support measures suggested by the Town
Council and Board of Education to insure that there are no tax increases in the
coming budget cycle.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
George Kennedy Judy Aron
President WHTA V. Pres WHTA
CC: West Hartford Town Council, Terry Schmitt, Board of Education, Ron Van Winkle, Dr. David Sklarz, West Hartford Life, West Hartford News, Htfd Courant