$98M budget cuts tax rate, boosts arts, fights hunger

EAST HAVEN — More funding for the arts and helping fight food insecurity are among highlights in the town’s 2022-23 budget, with a steep drop in the tax rate to boot.

Mayor Joseph Carfora signed the $98,449,865 million budget Wednesday after a month of workshops and public hearings.

The budget, which includes the $48,144,271

Board of Education spending plan, lowers the tax rate from 34.25 mills to

31.2 mills.

Lowering the tax rate was important to Carfora and members of the Town Council, with both citing this year’s property revaluation.

“As this is a revaluation year where interest rates, housing supply and demand, and COVID-19 increased the values of homes everywhere, it was imperative that we lower our mill rate to offset as much of these record increases as possible,” Carfora said Wednesday.

The approved budget closely resembles the plan Carfora presented to the town at the end of March, with minimal changes by the Town Council.

Those changes resulted in a spending plan

$144,985 less than the mayor’s recommendation.

“I think the administration and the council worked diligently to keep the taxpayer first and foremost, lowering the mill rate by more than three mills and doing a great job,” council Vice Chair Lou Pacelli said Tuesday night as the body approved the budget.

Four increases were approved by the council following a presentation and comments during an

April 19 public hearing from Hagaman Memorial Library Director Bruce George and other council members.

One was $2,500 to the library’s building maintenance after George spoke before the council about needing more funds for labor.

A $2,500 increase also was made for the food pantry, raising its total allocation to $7,500 for the coming fiscal year.

Carfora’s budget recommended $5,000 for the food pantry, but council members, including Chair Joseph Deko, thought it should be higher.

“I don’t like the fact that there’s still a huge number of food insecurity in the town. Not in my house, but I’m fortunate for that, but there are a lot of people that do use a food pantry and I think we should support that,” Deko said.

Pacelli said he wished they could have added even more money, pointing out that with high gas prices people are having a hard time feeding themselves and their children.

To that end, Finance Director Jim Keeley has been tasked with working to find additional funds the council can transfer to the pantry once the fiscal year begins.

The East Haven Arts Commission also received a boost, with $5,000 added to the mayor’s recommended $2,500 allocation.

The increased funding could be used to buy the plays and music the commission performs, Deko said. The commission works to promote and expand visual and performing arts in town for youth and adults

A new line item was created for the school district’s after-prom party, with the council allocating $3,500 to the event. The Board of Education will also will be contributing financially. The party will be a safe place for students to gather and celebrate after prom, officials noted.

“Coming out of a worldwide plague, these kids need this,” council member Josh Balter said.

Reductions were made to the town registrars’ part-time wages, professional development, mileage reimbursement and advertising. Other minor reductions were made to Planning and Zoning Commission’s equipment and some town department salaries.

All additions and reductions can be viewed on the town website.

Carfora said the budget, which was approved unanimously by the council, shows that all political parties are making reasoned and responsible efforts to stabilize and grow the town and to place it on sound financial footing.

“While there are always more goals to accomplish, we can say with optimism that together we will continue to march on to a brighter, better and united East Haven,” Carfora said.