Government

Op-Ed: Property Taxes And The Budget Process

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As part of our goal to keep the town informed and provide meaningful updates from time to time, this is a follow up to my summary last month regarding property revaluations. The purpose of this letter is to continue to communicate our process and to set a range of expectations given the large swings in valuations that we have seen. We don’t have all the budget facts at this point and assumptions continue to move around since my note last month. We are just starting the budget process, and just completing the revaluation assessments. As a reminder, new assessments were mailed out to property owners in December.

Government

Board of Finance Chair: Understanding the Recent Revaluation

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The Town of New Canaan has completed our latest property revaluations. New assessments have been mailed out to property owners. Mandated every 10 years, this most recent revaluation saw an estimated 25% surge in the total value of properties in New Canaan, known as the Grand List, from $8 billion to $10 billion. This level of increase is unprecedented. Property taxes are calculated through the use of a mill rate.

Andrew Brooks

Board of Finance Chair: Budget Planning Amid Economic Headwinds

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The purpose of this letter is to update you on the plan for the 2023/24 budget, and our overall financial picture. In summary, our town is in great financial shape, but there are economic uncertainties and challenges that we will need to work through this year. Let me share some highlights. On February 7th, the New Canaan Board of Finance will begin analyzing the Town’s budget for the fiscal year 2023/2024 that begins on July 1st. The town departments have been working on their needs and requests over the past few months.

Government

Chair: Board of Finance Funds Schools and Programs without Raising Taxes

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The Board of Finance approved the Town budget on March 4th. The comprehensive budget we sent to the Town Council fully funds our schools, police, fire, and town programs. The budget supports our parks, all the health and human services requests including important programs such as Kids in Crisis, all the emergency services, town sports, town departments, Bristow Bird sanctuary, and so many other important programs and initiatives, including the necessary capital needs for buildings, roads, and equipment including a new roof at the High School. We were able to support all these important programs and departments while keeping funds raised through taxation flat again for the fourth year in a row. This was a very difficult goal to accomplish this year, but everyone did an incredible job. Through careful spending and planning, we have not cut school programs, sports, arts, teachers, important social programs, emergency services, and safety spending, or been forced to raise taxes as many districts have done across Connecticut. 

We also know that we still face uncertainty with Covid.

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Op-Ed: Financial Support for Our Schools During Uncertain Times

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First, let me compliment the Board of Education and the School administration for their management and leadership over the last six months in the face of this terrible health crisis. They have done an amazing job. We enter this new fiscal year and school year with more uncertainty than ever. Will the schools open only to close in a few weeks or months? Will our enrollment continue to grow? How will the school schedules change should circumstances also change?