Current tax rate included, but changes still likely with public hearing on horizon

By Jack Chavez, Staff Writer

(April 13, 2023) With a public hearing scheduled for later this month, the Berlin mayor and Town Council are still trying to find ways to reduce the town’s budget deficit, but the message coming from them remains that residents should expect to pay more.

During the first reading of the FY24 tax rate ordinance during the mayor and council meeting on Monday, Mayor Zack Tyndall praised his colleagues and the department heads for the work they have done so far to pare down what was a much higher deficit originally, but couldn’t yet offer solid figures for the residents on the new tax rate.

“Some form of an increase this fiscal year (is very likely) but we don’t know what that looks like as a whole,” he said. “Costs are just too fluid right at this moment that I don’t have a recommendation (right now).

“We’re trying to get our heads around certain costs. We want to mitigate the deficit as much as possible.”

Finance Director Natalie Saleh said the projected budget revenue shortfall versus spending is $325,000 right now, but some changes are upcoming next Monday that could change it.

“It’s still a draft, but ($325,000) was the last number,” Saleh said of the variance.

Currently, the town is reporting an 81.5-cent tax rate in its April 24 public hearing advertisements. That number would keep the rate the same as last year, but raise revenue by 7 percent because of increased property assessments.

The mayor and councilmembers borth stressed throughout the meeting that the advertised rate is far from set in stone.

Tyndall at one point went so far as to say that it will likely go down at least slightly, but again would not commit to a number or ballpark figure.

“We’re just trying to mitigate what that ‘slightly’ looks like,” he said.

The mayor and council largely agreed that another budget work session is needed, with the intention to schedule one for next Monday. They won’t be able to agree on a tax rate proposal because it won’t be an official session, but it would at least give them a number to take to the public hearing.

“I have a little plan. I’m sure each of us (has ideas) for how to adjust the deficit,” Councilmember Steve Green said. “I think it needs to be multi-pronged. I’m not for slashing everything. I’m going to be out front on that. But I do think … our public should know the intentions of this group prior to the public hearing. I want to hear from the citizens but I want them to know what our intentions are.”

Tyndall agreed they should not be looking to “slash everything.”

“Keep in mind that the deficit was almost double what you see now,” he said. “It wasn’t double with things that (are frivolous). They’re things that are fundamental to the work we do and the expectations that the citizens have. Can we whittle it down some more? Possibly. But it’s not slashing everything and it’s not throwing out all the hard work we’ve already done.”