Cheshire County’s Delegation convened on Monday to approve a county budget totaling $78.6 million, focusing on financial solutions that aim to limit the tax burden on residents. The task involved assessing whether to raise taxes amid existing pressures or to utilize a portion of the year-end surplus, a decision that carries significant implications for future funding.

The budget will include tax revenues amounting to $30,989,160, indicating a roughly three percent rise compared to the previous year. Tax rates for individual towns will be finalized after this year’s property revaluation process concludes.

County Administrator Chris Coates remarked on the stability of the county’s finances, noting that tax increases have been avoided so far. However, the year-end fund is expected to have a lower balance than in past years. He expressed concerns about continuously diminishing the fund balance, highlighting potential long-term repercussions.

To support the new budget, the Delegation has decided to allocate $4.48 million from the projected $17 million left over this year. After this allocation, it is estimated that about $12.5 million will remain, representing around 16 percent of the ideal funding range that Coates suggested should lie between 13 and 18 percent. He observed that while this figure is still considered healthy, it may not adequately prepare the county for unexpected expenses.

Sheryl Trombly, the Finance Director, acknowledged that utilizing the fund balance creates a deficit that needs addressing in future budgets. She cautioned that an increased reliance on the fund could necessitate future tax hikes.

Although County Commissioner Claudia Stewart does not participate in budget voting, she offered a supportive yet cautious perspective. While affirming her commitment to alleviating the financial demands on taxpayers, Stewart cautioned that the reliance on the fund balance could lead to constrained resources in the future.

The county budget funds essential services, 85.6 percent of which are legally mandated. These services encompass the corrections department, Cheshire EMS, Maplewood Nursing Home, county attorney, and sheriff’s office. Recent budget discussions have attributed the escalated costs to increased payroll and benefits, rising property and liability insurance, higher food prices for the nursing home and jail, and additional expenses related to grants.

A notable inclusion in the budget is $125,000 earmarked for the acquisition of a new ambulance, which Coates indicated would replace a backup ambulance from 2014. However, it may take several years before the county receives the new vehicle.