No Deal

News that the state employees union had rejected Malloy's concession deal rocked town hall Friday afternoon. 

The town of Rocky Hill is expected to receive $951,000 in state funding this year. If any or all that money gets cut, the town will have to find other ways to make up the money or cuts will need to be made, Town Manager Barbara Gilbert said. 

The legislation does not allow  cuts from the board of education budget, once their budget has been set by the town. Gilbert said town employees, who already agreed to no pay increase in lieu of layoffs, would be the hardest hit. 

"All of the cuts will be absorbed on the town side," Gilbert said. 

Gilbert said to save money the town may have to leave some town office vacancies unfilled. There are currently two police officer vacancies that have to be filled, due to public safety. But there is a vacancy in the tax office that may not be filled. And more vacancies could be left unfilled, if town employees retire. 

Gilbert said the town may have to look at cutting projects including new police cruisers and road projects. She said that part-time summer public works employees could be let go. 

"They need the money too," Gilbert said about the public works employees. 

Friday afternoon, Gilbert sent an email to all the department heads stating that she would not be approving any purchase orders after July 1 until the town knew what state funding they would be receiving. However, she did state the town would be getting portable classrooms. 

Gilbert said that she will be asking her legislators to allow towns to reopen their budgets and not to cut municipal aid. 

The tax bills went out to residents on June 11, the quickest the bills have ever been sent out. Payments are due back to the tax collector by July 1 but, residents have until August 1 to pay without penalty.