By Sarah Opdahl

On Saturday, June 24, New Fairfield voters once again rejected the proposed fiscal year 202 3-2024 budget. With 16.9% of eligible voters casting ballots, the second budget election’s results delivered a clear mandate on the majority of engaged voters. The budget counts were:

Town

1049 No

527 Yes

Education

1097 No

476 Yes

Though not common, multiple votes to achieve an approved budget have occurred in New Fairfield’s past. Given the situation—which will have become more clear after a Board of Finance (BOF) meeting on Wednesday, June 28—a third vote will be held in the coming month(s). Board Chair Mr. Wes Marsh says that the BOF will “continue to meet until the board members can agree on a budget to present to the voters.”

For now, the Board of Selectmen (BOS) set a temporary mill rate on Monday, June 26 to keep the town moving forward, pursuant to Section 12-123 of the Connecticut General Statutes. First Selectman Ms. Pat Del Monaco explained, “The Board agreed that we must move forward to ensure that the Town can begin collecting tax revenue necessary to pay current operating expenses.  A record number of taxpayers have been attending BOF meetings and voicing their opinion through e-mails and public comment that the budget as proposed was too low.  They spoke loudly on Saturday by defeating both budgets by a 2 to 1 margin.” 

The BOS set a mill rate of 34.90 for real estate and personal property, and 32.46 for motor vehicles, a cap which is set by the State. Del Monaco said, “This rate reflects the will of the taxpayers with a minimal increase above the proposed 34.71 rate that failed on Saturday, equivalent to a 6.78% increase over last year calculated on the entire Grand List versus the 6.25% increase that failed on Saturday.  The BOS encouraged the BOF to address taxpayer concerns by restoring funds to both the BOS and BOE operating budgets and by adjusting debt service, medical and revenue.  It is in the best interest of the Town to propose a budget that will be approved by the voters as soon as possible.” Marsh explained, “This will be in effect until th e Board of Finance presents another budget for the taxpayers (v oters to approve).” It was noted, if the mill rate that is approved by voters is lower than that set by the BOS, the additional revenue will be used toward the FY 2024-2025 budget. If it is higher, a supplemental tax bill will be issued.

Del Monaco and Hall expressed reluctance for the need for this measure, with Selectman Khris Hall emphasizing, “None of us wanted to be in this position,” going on to explain, “The mill rate we approved is reasonable and will result in an additional payment of $40/year for a family living in a home of median value compared to the budget that was overwhelmingly defeated by voters on June 24.” Hall noted that the temporary rate is a reflection of taxpayer wishes, expressed through their voices and votes regarding the need for a more fully-funded school budget and that they had approved the BOS budget, which was cut in the second round. The temporary mill rate also follows the Town’s insurance and financial experts’ recommendations to use less of the debt service bond premium and route less money to the medical reserve. In addition, it considers new information regarding additional revenue that is coming from the state.

Marsh said about the second failure, “I was surprised at the overwhelming NO votes! A very large number representing both taxpayers who thought the budgets were too low and taxpayers who thought they still were too high.”

Hall reflected, “I am gratified that New Fairfield voters overwhelmingly rejected this budget proposal, as it did not allocate enough funds to education and would have made policing very difficult next year.” She is “hopeful the Board of Finance will recognize the message voters have sent them in the two rejections of their proposed budgets this month and will put forward a budget that New Fairfielders can get behind.”