Middlefield Residents Pass $4.6 Million Budget; Elect Adams, Onofreo to BOE

Middlefield residents unanimously approved a $4.6 million spending plan for the 2013-2014 fiscal year during Monday night's town budget meeting.

Finance board chairman Lucy Petrella thanked the 60-plus residents in attendance and said the budget was the result of more than a dozen meetings, two public hearings and at least 30 hours of budget talks.

"This municipal budget represents 26 percent of your taxes while the school budget represents approximately 74 percent of your taxes, yet the municipal part of the budget directly affects the quality of your life," she said.

Next year's budget will result in a 7.3 percent increase over current spending and Middlefield taxpayers will be responsible for a total of $13,351,877, a figure that includes the recently passed school budget.

Several factors, Petrella said, led to the budget increase including a shift in both Middlefield's share of the Regional School District 13 budget and spending on the Durham Middlefield Interlocal Agreement Advisory Board (DMIAAB) due to school enrollment.

The only item to receive considerable attention at the meeting was a proposal by the town's park and recreation department to treat the Lake Beseck swim area with an aquatic herbicide to reduce weeds.

Members of the park and rec commission quickly pointed out that, if approved, the project will be paid for by funds raised through the department and not through the budget.

"All-in-all, the 2013-2014 budget represents a conservative use of your hard earn tax dollars," Petrella said before the 60-0 vote in favor of the plan.

Following the meeting, the finance board set Middlefield's mill rate at 33.24, a 1.09 mill increase over the current rate.

Voters also re-elected Merrill Adams to a three-year term to the Regional School District 13 Board of Education. Dr. Anthony Onofreo was also elected and will replace longtime board member Dr. Joseph Ochterski who did not run for re-election.

Howard Weisberg and Jim Gibbons were both chosen to represent Middlefield on DMIAAB.