Health District Slates A Hearing

On Its Budget

By Jan Howard

A public hearing on the Newtown District Board of Health’s proposed 2001-2002 budget will be held Monday, April 30, at 7:30 pm in the conference room adjacent to the Health District office in Canaan House on the Fairfield Hills campus.

The total Health District budget of $356,706.83 is up $5,220.79 over that of the current budget of $351,486.04, but there is a decrease in the borough and town assessments. The local assessment is $19,037.13 for the borough and $200,836.64 for the town as compared to the current budget assessments of $19,488.63 for the borough and $205,564.35 for the town, or a total decrease of $5,179.

The decrease in assessment is due to reduced costs of workers compensation, $4,557, down $1,889.95, from $6,446.95, and health insurance, $37,442, down $3,289, from $40,731, according to Health Director Mark Cooper.

The increase in the budget is in part because of anticipated increases in salary, which Mr Cooper said has to be negotiated with the Newtown Health District Employees Association, which was formed last summer. The projected amount for salaries is $237,346, up $13,136.20 from the current budget of $224,209.80.

Increases also include operating expenses, $17,778.34, up $3,800.02 from $13,978.32; and contractual, $16,768.49, up $1,768.49 from $15,000.

Other budget items include transportation, $14,015 (no change); Legal/Financial, $5,650 (no change); contingency/fund balance, $5,000, a decrease of $5,074.20, from this year’s $10,074.20; and Social Security, $18,150, a decrease of $3,230.56, from $21,380.56.

Anticipated revenues include a state per capita block grant of $43,888.60, up $1,269.49 from the current $42,619.11, and a block grant of $4,129, up $529 from $3,600. The district also projects fees of $48,000, $3,000 less than this year’s $51,000.

“I’m anticipating a slowdown in construction,” Mr Cooper said. “It’s just a guess.”

Copies of the budget are on file for review at the Health District Office.

The district’s Board of Directors will meet following the public hearing to finalize the budget. A date for that meeting has not as yet been set.