Canton Officials Look for Suggestions from Residents on Capital Expenditures

As part of a policy adopted by the Board of Finance, Town officials are looking for suggestions from the public on what projects should be funded through the Capital Improvement Plan.  In order to be included in the plan, expenditures must be more than $10,000 and last for more than 5 years.  In the past several years, the general government budget (non-school budget) has included approximately $1,000,000 a year for capital expenditures.  The majority of the funding is utilized for pavement management, municipal vehicles and large equipment.  For example, the current general government capital budget is $1,168,300 of which $600,000 is allocated for pavement management and $451,500 for vehicles and large equipment.  That leaves about $116,800 for all other items including facility maintenance, Fire Department equipment, parks and technology improvements.

The Board of Education Capital Improvement Plan for the current fiscal year is $270,500.  The school will utilize the funding for track field maintenance, ADA and other code required improvements, removal of hazardous materials and making upgrades to the Media Center and Cafeteria along with other miscellaneous capital expenditures.

Town and School officials meet every year to discuss the Capital Improvement Plan and prioritize expenditures.  As part of this process, Town Officials are looking for input from the general public.  Often the public gets involved after the proposed budget has been drafted and is being presented in the spring.  This is an opportunity for residents to get involved early in the process by recommending Capital Projects to be funded.  Projects such as enhancements to recreational fields, accessibility to public buildings, improvements to educational facilities and street paving are all projects that residents have expressed support for in the past. It is important that you make your thoughts known.

Please email your recommended Capital Improvement Projects to Robert Skinner, Chief Administrative Officer at rskinner@townofcantonct.org or mail to Robert Skinner, Chief Administrative Officer, 4 Market Street, PO Box 168, Collinsville, CT  06022.  Please be sure to include a complete description of the project you wish to have funded.  Both the general government and school’s Capital Improvement Plans can be found HERE or on the Town Web Page at www.townofcantonct.org by clicking on Annual Budgets under the Popular Links section of the website.

Please send your Capital Improvement suggestions by November 15, 2016.

Thank you for your input,

Robert H. Skinner                                                                     Kevin Case

Chief Administrative Officer                                         Superintendent of Schools