ETNA GREEN – The town is facing a $35,000 budget shortfall for 2014, councilmen heard Tuesday. Town Clerk-Treasurer Laura Baker attributed the shortfall to declining revenue projected by the state Department of Local Government Finance, which said something must be done to the general fund in order not to end next year in the red. “I’ve never had to cut the general fund ever,” she remarked, adding that at first she thought she had just made a mistake. But the state confirmed it. “It’s just a real bummer.” Baker and town attorney Jay Rigdon will discuss transferring money from Economic Development Income Tax into the general fund to cover the shortcoming. If the state would allow the transfer, she will bring the recommendation to council next month. Otherwise, $35,000 in cuts must be made this year or next year, which she noted would be difficult since most of the money is already dedicated to expenses like hydrant rental, insurance and payroll. The general fund shortfall comes in addition to nearly $15,000 in cuts to three funds for this year that council approved Tuesday – $5,661 from motor vehicle highway, $4,070 from cumulative capital improvement and $5,229 from the rainy day fund. Also during the meeting, council approved an ordinance setting a minimum assessment of $125 when the town is forced to mow a property owner’s unkempt lawn. Councilmen also agreed that the town ordinance inspector should exercise autonomy in sending letters to property owners and then taking action after 10 days if the problems aren’t addressed, with no action by council needed. But they indicated an appeal process should be set up similar to the process for water bill disagreements.
