3.21.2006

The Budget for fiscal year 2006-2007 is completed. Selectmen Fred Dudek, Ed Sipples, Secretary Carol Gordon, and I spent many hours in deliberation to present a budget that meets the needs of the town with as little increase in the mil rate as possible. We have forwarded our recommendations to the Board of Finance.

The town boards and commissions, all staffed by volunteers, worked diligently and responsibly to update their budgets and their requests were within reason. We are fortunate to have such dedication among our citizens. The BOS did not treat the representatives from the various boards as adversaries but worked in partnership with the board members to meet the obligations of their organizations.

The grand list for Killingworth is slowing. If this lack luster trend toward growth continues we will have to resort to a new approach to spending and some belt tightening. During my term of office I will continue to scrutinize expenditures. Yes, Fred, I will also insist that lights are shut off when the office is not occupied and that the heat is turned down.

Just as other boards are agonizing over difficult choices, the BOS, too, has had to make decisions pertaining to our own budget for maintaining and repairing the infrastructure of the town highways and roads. We prudently agreed to forego resurfacing and sweeping the town roads during the coming year.

As a result of a maintenance program established a few years ago, the roads are in good condition and do not require resurfacing this year. We concluded that roads should not be swept carte blanche but only if an individual inspection indicates that sweeping is necessary. On roads where there is no berm, sand is washed to the side of the road, further reducing the need for sweeping.

We decided to allocate funds and manpower ordinarily used to resurface and sweep for other much needed projects. We will increase safety by attending to the guard rails on the sides of the roads, including straightening posts that are down, replacing missing posts, making sure that each post has a reflector on it and seeing that broken cables are repaired. Redefining and painting signs, and replacing those that are missing is crucial. It is also part of our agenda to paint those bridges that require it.

Since we've encountered the necessity of replacing the bridge on Reservoir Road, we've initiated a highway safety maintenance program. At the current time we are reconfiguring the hazardous juncture at Green Hill Road and Route 81. We are also in the process of redesigning Alders Bridge Road and hope to repair the bridge on Burr Hill Road. The elimination of superfluous resurfacing and sweeping enables us to divert funds for these and other needs. Upon completion of this restructuring, we will submit applications to the state OPM requesting reimbursement for capitol improvement expenditures on roads and bridges under the Local Capitol Improvement Program (LoCIP).

Every board has to prioritize its needs, scrutinize existing budgets, remove line items that are obsolete and utilize valuable resources for crucial programs. We appreciate the diligence of the members of our boards and commissions. Let's continue our partnership, and together, fulfill our obligations to the citizens of Killingworth at reasonable cost.

Thank you. Marty Klein