The water’s just ducky

With a little more than week before final approval is given for the 2008-2009 fiscal year budget, Mayor Art Ward has called for cuts to the proposed $172.7 million budget.

“The budget process is always a challenge and this coming year is no exception. Additional budget cuts are going to be necessary,” said Ward in a prepared statement. Ward called for every department head to go through their budget and compile a list of recommendations to be cut.

The Board of Finance approved the $172.7 million budget in April, and the joint board of the City Council and finance board are scheduled to meet May 19 to give the budget final approval. The proposed budget would increase property taxes by 6 percent. At the finance board meeting in April, Ward said the proposed budget was “responsible.” At a second glance, Ward said with economic struggles facing the city and state, rising energy costs, and the ability of the taxpayer to afford the increase the additional budget cuts are necessary. “It’s possible to get it down some,” said finance board chair Richard Miecznikowski about the proposed budget. But, he said that the proposed budget can’t be cut drastically without eliminating services.

Miecznikowski added, with the state now projecting a deficit in its budget, the city may not receive the level of state funding once thought. “Unfortunately, the state is not going to help us much this year because they have problems of their own,” he said.

Finance officials had anticipated that the city would receive a few hundred thousand dollars more from the state than budgeted. “We were hoping for it,” said City Comptroller Glenn Klocko. “But we didn’t bank on it and we didn’t budget for it.”

The city will know for certain what funds they are receiving from the state after the legislative session closes on May 7. Klocko said cuts to the budget that would significantly reduce the tax increase are possible. “But,

See BUDGET, page 4

Bristol Eastern High School’s cheerleaders are doing their part for a good cause that will help strangers. But it’s also a good cause that will help some friends.

On Sunday, May 11, the Lancer cheerleaders will gather at West Hartford’s Blue Back Square to participate in the Lupus Foundation of America’s annual Lupus Walk. This isn’t just a chance for the athletes to help a worthy organization. It’s an opportunity to help their coach and a teammate.

The squad’s coach Melissa Williamson, and her daughter Megan, who is also a member of the Lancers’ squad, both have lupus. And that helped put a face on the disease for the cheerleaders.

“I first heard about the walk from my coach… who has done charity events that benefit those who have lupus,” said Stephanie Sassu, next year’s cheerleader captain. “I wanted to take part in this event because I learned that people on my cheerleading squad are affected by this

See LUPUS, page 4