The Board of Selectmen on January 30th approved a Total Expenditure Budget of $183.10 million for fiscal year 2025-26, representing an increase of 4.67% over the fiscal year 2024-25 budget.
The Selectmen’s budget recommendation now goes to the Board of Finance for review during February. A Board of Finance budget recommendation will then go to the Town Council by March 13th. The Town Council may accept, reduce or reject the Finance Board’s budget recommendation at a Budget Meeting scheduled for April 3rd.
The Total Expenditure Budget includes Town Department operations expense of $34.9 million (up 3.29%), Board of Education operating expenses of $114.24 million (up 4.67%), Debt Service of $18.11 million, and tax-supported Capital Projects of $1.73 million.
First Selectman Dionna Carlson commented: “The Fiscal Year 2025-2026 total expenditure budget approved Thursday, January 30th for the Board of Finance to consider represents a 4.67% increase over the current year’s expense budget. This budget does not consider approximately 1% in projected revenue that we will have greater visibility into during the Board of Finance and Town Council reviews. The Board of Selectman’s approved budget reflects a commitment to hold the line on spending while maintaining services to town residents and continually striving for improvements and efficiencies. Continued pressure from inflation, increased expenses for the police department, library, and the school district along with health and pension benefits are the primary drivers of the proposed budget increase. As we gain more insight into the current year revenue and expenses during the coming months, I remain optimistic that we will find additional opportunities to reduce the FY 2025-2026 budget before it becomes final in April.”