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Russell Hurley

Running for Board of Finance

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Party: Republican

CEP Status:

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Age: 68

Marital Status: widowed

Current Residence: Goshen

Current Job: Retired

Previous Job: Road Foreman of Engines/ Loco. Engr.

Previous Job:

Education: B.A. 1971Prov. College M.A. 1979 U.Conn.

Should your school district get the same amount of education funding from the state if your district's enrollment is dropping?
Yes. No reductions should be made by Hartford,(and these probably are debateable) without proper notification. Our Board of Education has done a good job of adjusting their budget in anticipation of any proposed reductions. Our education expenses are a major part of our budgetary process. I wouldn't want the quality of our education constrained by lack of responsible funding.
Why are you running for this office?
I'm an incumbent member of the current Board of Finance. I am fortunate to be a member of the Goshen community, "A Town Above All Others". I am privileged to serve our community in any capacity. As a member of the Board of Finance I hope to continue to exercise conservative fiscal oversight with the rest of the Board in the preparation and administration of our town's budget. I'd like to help keep the Mill Rate low enough to keep the entire economic strata part of our town.
What is the most pressing local issue facing your community and how would you solve it (within the capacity of the office for which you are running)?
Trying to keep our mill rate as low as possible. We have been successful to date by examining every expenditure and encouraging our departments and commissions to be as frugal as possible. Thankfully, they have all been very fiscally responsible.
With the state's ongoing budget crisis looming over the election, what are your plans for your community's budget? Is there anything you can do make your town less dependent on revenue from the state?
There should be no significant changes in the manner in which we exercise budget oversight. Our philosophy has always been to make budget adjustments and expenditures as fiscally responsible as possible. We are fortunate to have a healthy fund balance despite being castigated by our Governor for that balance and our fiscal responsibility.
The legislature has been debating various ideas to allow towns to raise revenue locally through something other than property taxes. If you could ease your residents' property tax burden by adding another method of taxation, is there anything you might consider for your town?
Actually, my philosophy is no tax is a good tax, and no mill rate increase is a good increase !
Are you in favor of regionalizing more services in conjunction with other nearby communities? If so, which ones?
That would be up to the voters of the Town of Goshen. We would probably address the issue of "Regionalization" at a Town meeting. Goshen has currently regionalized our Animal Control Officer with Torrington and Litchfield. I am in favor of local control as it is easier to exercise budget oversight.
What's one thing most people don't know about you?
If I told you then everyone would know ! I am a 33 yr town resident and have served in the past or am currently serving on the Board of Finance, Planning and Zoning Commission, the W.P.C.A., the Conservation Commission and the Republican Town Committee. Actually, I'm pretty transparent and we are a very small town.
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