MARCH 17, 2010
HERBST HITS $1 MILLION
First Selectman fulfills campaign promise of identifying $1 million dollars in operational savings in first 100 days
TRUMBULL - - As promised in his campaign, First Selectman Timothy M. Herbst followed through on his pledge to the taxpayers of Trumbull by identifying $1 million dollars in operational savings during his first 100 days in office. Herbst unveiled his first budget last month, where expenditures increased by less than 1%. “In these difficult economic times, I am pleased to report that not only were we able to deliver an austere budget, but we were able to hold true to our promise of identifying $1 million dollars during our first 100 days in office,” said Herbst.
The Herbst Administration produced a detailed schedule showing savings of $1,061,649.00. “Our report on savings was conservative,” stated Town Treasurer John Ponzio. “The administration continues to work on an ongoing basis to identify long term operational efficiencies to further reduce the burden on Trumbull’s taxpayers.” The schedule details savings in staff reductions, healthcare co-pays and dependents, as well as long term bonding costs that come through annual debt service payments funded through the municipal budget. “By reducing eligible employees that receive health care benefits and eliminating the practice of ‘free’ healthcare, we were able to save the taxpayers $231,285 in this area alone,” stated Ponzio. “This reduces the burden to the taxpayers without compromising Town services.”
Herbst further indicated that he was pleased by the fact that the administration was able to identify operational efficiencies without compromising basic town services. “I am proud of the fact that we identified $1 million dollars in operational savings, while maintaining senior tax relief and maintaining our leaf pick up program. We were able to achieve savings while sustaining town services. This feat was accomplished while increasing contributions to the Town’s pension fund. We are proud of this achievement and we look forward to working over the remainder of our first term to identify further operational savings that protect taxpayers.”
Annualized Operational Savings in First 100 Days of the Herbst Administration |
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| Annual Savings |
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Cell Phones reductions 79 to 52 in process |
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| $ 13,608 |
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Staff reductions (salary only) |
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| Asst. Exec. Secty |
| 37,487 |
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| Asst. Finance Dir.(5 months prorated) | 32,190 |
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| Less: Temporary help (est) | (24,898) |
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| Total Salary |
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| 44,779 |
| Payroll Taxes 7.65% |
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| 3,426 |
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"Free" Health Care (co-pays and reduced dependents) |
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| 231,285 |
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Pension payments to inelegible retirees ($4,500 saved per month) |
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| 54,000 |
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3% Herbst, Monaco, Ponzio |
| 180,379 |
| 5,411 |
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| Sub total |
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| 352,509 |
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Public Works staff reductions (unfilled vacancies) |
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| Supervisor |
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| 69,948 |
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| Foreman |
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| 53,768 |
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| PW Comptroller part time |
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| 20,015 |
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| Other (Mech. Combine) |
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| 42,758 |
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| Total |
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| 186,489 |
FICA on PW |
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| 14,266 |
Medical related to PW reductions |
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| 68,461 |
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| Public Works Savings |
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| 269,216 |
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Social Services (1 position) |
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| 50,450 |
| Part time replacement |
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| (25,000) |
| Medical |
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| 17,115 |
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| Total Social Services savings |
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| 42,565 |
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Pool Bonding (see below calculation) |
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| 350,000 |
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Other THS "Like New" savings (see below calculation) |
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| 47,359 |
| Team Locker Rooms & Drainage |
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Total Savings
$1,061,649
Pool, etc.
$ 5,000,000
Drainage & Locker Rooms
$ 676,553
Interest rate
2%
2%
100,000
13,531
20 year Amortization
250,000
33,828
Impact year 1
350,000
Impact year 1
47,359