Politics & Government

West Hartford Town Council Allocates $1.8 Million Surplus

Most of the funds - some $1.1 million - will be deposited into the general fund.

The Town Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to allocate a $1.83 million surplus from the 2012-13 budget cycle.

Some $1.1 million will be returned to the general fund, bringing the overall total of that fund to $18.9 million, according to Town Manager Ron Van Winkle. The overall general fund - the rainy day fund - is at 8 percent of the town’s overall budget, which is on the low side for towns that have AAA bond ratings like West Hartford, Van Winkle said.

The town maintains that rating, which makes it less expensive for the town to borrow money, in large part due to the way in which West Hartford manages its finances, Van Winkle said.

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The Town Council allocated about $770,000 in four major areas:

  • $257,000 to replace seven town vehicles: five police vehicles, a vehicle for the fire battalion chief and a snowplow;

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  • Cover police overtime expenditures;

  • $262,000 to cover a deficit in the leisure services account. Van Winkle said that the account took a major hit this year due in large part to 3,000 fewer golf rounds played at Rockledge Golf Club, the town’s municipal course. Van Winkle said that inclement weather attributed to fewer rounds being played;

  • Finally, $211,000 went to cover worker’s compensation claims.

  • Town Councilor Harry Captain noted that the $18.9 million figure in the general fund is the highest it has been in the last decade, an impressive feat considering the massive Nor’easter that required significant cleanup in February.

    Town Councilor Burke Doar echoed Captain’s sentiments, noting that “you can never have too much capital.”



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