Fairfield selectmen approve $354 million budget
FAIRFIELD — The Board of Selectmen approved a $354 million budget for the next operating year, setting it up to go before the Board of Finance in the coming weeks.
“I appreciate the positive comments from both Selectman Flynn and Selectwoman Lefkowitz about the overall budget in this difficult economic climate,” First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said in a statement. “After a great deal of discussion, debate and even disagreement, I am pleased this budget passed unanimously and look forward to the same level of civil discourse that took place at the BOS table from the Board of Finance and RTM budget deliberations.”
The budget calls for an increase of about $9.7 million, or about 2.7 percent, over the 2022-2023 budget.
It’s about $275,000 more than what Kupchick proposed due to updated health insurance numbers since last week. The health insurance projection is now about $11.5 million instead of $11.2 million. The increase will be covered by a higher tax collection rate, based on previous collection figures, officials said.
Kupchick said the spending plan includes a large investment in Fairfield Public Schools and funds long-term liabilities, as well as the senior and disabled tax relief program. She said the budget keeps spending low despite record high inflation and supply chain issues.
The selectmen’s budget proposal includes $210.2 million for the schools, which is $7.7 million more than the current budget but about $400,000 less than what the Board of Education requested.
“It also continues efforts to reorganize the town’s workforce to improve processes and services to residents, effectively manage the many existing projects and pending infrastructure needs so Fairfield remains attractive for generations to come,” she said.
The budget, if approved as is, would result in the mill rate increasing about 0.98 percent.
“I believe the budget the BOS is sending to the BOF is responsive to the needs of residents and businesses and responsible to taxpayers with a less than 1 percent increase in the mill rate,” Kupchick said.
That would result in a mill rate of 27.51, or $27.51 per $1,000 of assessed value. If the budget passed as is, a property owner with a home valued at $300,000 would pay $8,253 in taxes, while one with a home valued at $600,000 would pay $16,506.
Selectwoman Nancy Lefkowitz said she approved the budget because she thought it was fair, but did raise some questions she hopes the BOF and the Representative Town Meeting take up when it comes before them.
In the hearings, Lefkowitz did try to reinstate $500,000 that Kupchick removed from the budget the Board of Education approved last month, but it did not pass. She noted the school budget is still getting an increase, but not the one officials requested, adding she trusts those staff members and elected leaders with coming up with the best budget for their department.
“Yet, we’re making the determination that we’re taking it away,” she said.
“Ultimately, that wasn’t going to be the reason why I’d vote down the whole budget. I was comfortable with my yes vote. I just hope the points and questions I raised are considered by the bodies that will now interrogate the budget. There’s still a lot of work to be done.”