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New London selectmen approve operating budget lines, will revisit COLA after New England CPI
Summary
The New London Board of Selectmen approved a set of operating budget line items and agreed to reconsider the already-voted cost-of-living adjustment after the New England Consumer Price Index is published in early December, so the operating numbers can be finalized with current CPI data.
The New London Board of Selectmen approved a series of operating budget line items during its Nov. 1 meeting and agreed to defer a final decision on an already-voted cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) until the New England Consumer Price Index (CPI) is published in early December.
A committee member asked the board to "reconsider relooking at the COLA after the New England CPI comes out," saying the town had provisionally used a 3% figure but that actual CPI data could raise or lower that number. The board voted to complete the operating-line approvals now and reconvene in early December to set the COLA once the CPI is available.
The selectmen approved the following operating lines by voice vote: executive $456,655; town clerk and elections $173,007.68; finance $393,933; personnel administration $156,569; zoning and planning $155,628; cemetery $49,443; dispatch $655,332; fire $993,749; highway administration $1,258,547; highway and streets $626,500; transfer station $600,691; recreation $240,976; and library $789,618. The board also approved the police budget (see separate coverage on the police budget amendment).
Board members emphasized the narrow scope of the COLA decision: operating figures will stand for now, but the CPI will be used to determine the final employee compensation adjustment. One member summarized the plan: the budget committee will "revisit this in early December after the CPI comes out." The board directed staff to circulate updated reports reflecting the approved operating numbers and to prepare for the December follow-up.
The board approved the Oct. 23 meeting minutes during the same session. The selectmen listed routine upcoming closures and confirmed their next meeting for Nov. 20.
