Milford City Council approved a $60.6 million budget
At their regular meeting, Milford City Council approved the 2025 operating budget totaling $60,592,347 which included capital expenses approved in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) also adopted that evening. Before voting on the CIP, Councilman Jason James reminded those in attendance that the CIP covered wish list items over the next five years, but only those designated for 2025 were included in the current budget.
“The budget provides the citizens of Milford with information regarding the operations of city government and details how public funds will be utilized throughout the community,” Mark Whitfield, City Manager, said. “As agreed upon by council with the adoption of the FY2022 budget, a $0.01 real estate assessment tax is included in the budget and the use of Realty Transfer Tax (RTT) for operating expenses will be reduced by $100,000.”
In addition to the planned increase due to the reduction in use of RTT funds, the bonds for the police station will come due adding $0.59 per $100 of assessed value, increasing property taxes by 8.1 percent. During three nights of budget hearings, council asked many questions about the expenses included in the budget proposal. Councilwoman Madula Kalesis asked about the City Hall Plaza upgrades included in the budget.
“It is basically an overhaul at the front of City Hall. It includes brick pavers in the front relocating the flagpoles,” Brad Dennehy, Director of Parks and Recreation, said. “It’s making it a pedestrian friendly and also making it with removable bollards, so that you could have, it’s almost like an area where people or council members could have an announcement in some capacity, or any kind of city of announcement. So it’s brick paving, pedestrian friendly, and it’s removing the driveway through there, but it would still have removable bollards, so you could still get a fire truck or emergency vehicle through there.”
Mayor Todd Culotta suggested that although this project would be very nice, it was not vital in a budget year where funds were tight. Councilwoman Nadia Zychal agreed that although this was a great amenity, it was not something she felt was a high priority. Whitfield explained that this project had been approved some time ago and that the city was very close to finishing the design phase. Councilwoman Kalesis pointed out that this was a $150,000 project and there was also $500,000 designated for acquisition of open space. Since this was a tight budget year, she wondered if one of those two projects could be eliminated.
“That’s one of those projects that we call kind of like a grant or bust, informally, if there’s no grant funding for it, it’s not something that we’re financially capable of but a lot of times you’re seeking grant funding, the grantors want to see that you have a plan for the use of the funds, and that it’s been contemplated by city council, that it’s risen to the highest level of Council and approved, if not in terms of funding, but at least in terms of concept,” Lou Vitola, Finance Manager, said. “We were able to secure some other funding that way for the Sharp purchase, even after it happened. And the Sharp purchase was initially part of this $2.5 million, or $500,000 a year, kind of placeholder for land acquisition. Even if we cut all two and a half million out, we’re not saving, because the dollars aren’t programmed to come out anywhere. So it’s really one of those planning tools that that helps us align some some initiatives, if their opportunities arise, but otherwise, there’s no risk in leaving that in there.”
Another question for Dennehy was about fencing proposed in Memorial Park. Councilman Dan Marabello asked what fencing was necessary around the pickleball courts and playground.
“What we’re doing is adding a bottom rail to the pickleball court on the northern side of the fencing. What we’ve found is we have an adult league at the moment. I’ve had several complaints of the ball is rolling underneath the fence, so it’s a real minor thing, but we’re addressing the complaints on that and with the playground,” Dennehy said. “We’re adding some additional fencing on the front side of the playground. We’ve had some, I wouldn’t say complaints, but concerns that there’s a bit of a drop off on the front side. So, we’re going to go ahead and put up a safety railing on the front of the new playground.”
Mayor Culotta asked about possible lighting at the pickleball and basketball courts so people could stay on the courts longer. Dennehy stated he could look into it but was concerned that there may be pushback from residences near those courts. After discussing the Parks and Recreation budget, the city moved to the police budget. One expense included upgrades to body and vehicle cameras.
“So, with this, this is something that has passed legislation and is a requirement for all police officers to be wearing body worn cameras that was signed into legislation by the Governor,” Chief Cecilia Ashe said. “So, what’s good about this department is we were already ahead of a lot of departments in the fact that we have had body worn cameras here in Milford Since approximately 2013 or 2014. That’s good and it’s bad. One, a lot of funding came to police departments when that legislation came out that helped agencies pay for body worn cameras. I’ve raised some concerns at the state level, and hopefully making some headway on this that it almost penalizes agencies that were proactive and progressive in thinking about body worn cameras before others were required to so I’m hoping that once the state budget passes, that we’ll be getting some type of grant funding around $70,000 which hopefully will cover most of our first year out of FY 25 but Again, that’s no guarantee with that being said, though, looking at this, this is a five year contract.”
Chief Ashe explained that Captain David Wells had worked with the camera company and was able to negotiate the price down somewhat. Mayor Culotta recalled when Milford began using body cameras and that they were one of the first towns to do so. Another project from the police budget was a maintenance building that was put on hold when the new police station was constructed. Under Public Works, several parking lot upgrades were included in the budget.
Several non-profit organizations were included in the budget as well. Carlisle Fire Company will receive $205,000 from the city, the same amount as 2024 but there is also an $11,000 incentive fund to encourage residents to volunteer for the fire company using a tax incentive. Milford Museum will receive $40,000, the same as 2024 while the Milford Public Library and Downtown Milford Inc. (DMI will also receive the same as the year before, with the library receiving $28,000 and DMI receiving $50,000. Funds for community festivals were set at $65,000.
The budget passed with a vote of six yes, one no and one absent. Councilman Marabello was the only no vote. The CIP also passed with a six yes vote with Councilman Marabello abstaining and Councilwoman Lori Connor absent.
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