Bristol Town Administrator Sees Budget Reprieve in FY13

If adopted as presented, the Bristol Town Administrator's proposed municipal budget for FY13 would leave the tax rate at $12.41 per thousand dollars, the same as the approved tax rate for FY12.

"This year I think we can take a bit of a breath... it's a bit of a reprieve," said Administrator Diane Mederos.

Last year the town of Bristol approved a budget with a tax rate increase of 20 percent to cover losses in state aid, increase in pension and health care contributions and loss in revenue from property tax due to property reassessments. But this year, Mederos claims the town is in a good place financially.

Mederos noted that the town was expecting to have to contribute more to pensions in FY13, but that recent changes in the pension system have "stabilized contribution rates."

"We were pleasantly surprised it wasn't as bad as we thought it would be," Mederos said, adding that three Unions agreed to changes in health care plans and increased premium contributions. "The Unions have had a very good attitude about pitching in."

Mederos described that the town would be looking ahead to a lighter budget, a decrease in municipal spending by about one percent from FY12.

"We are now reaping the benefits of years of conservative fiscal practices and long-term planning," Mederos wrote in a budget letter.

Mederos was also pleased to announce that, under her proposed budget, the sewer use rate would remain the same rate as approved in FY12. The lack of increase comes from the use of revenue from the available income of the FY11 audit.

Under Mederos' current proposed budget, the town of Bristol would be able to provide the school district with (a 1.5 percent increase), without raising the property tax rate. above the FY12 contribution to the school district could lead to a tax rate increase.

Ultimately, the final approved amount that Bristol will contribute to the district , who will make their final decision on the school budget on Tuesday, March 27 at 7 pm at . The next Bristol budget workshop will be held on Tuesday, March 20, at 7 pm at .