Government

Op-Ed: Board of Finance Budget Update

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[Todd Lavieri is chair of the Board of Finance.]

Once again, working collaboratively with each department, we met the primary financial goals we established at the beginning of our budget review. Working with the Board of Selectmen’s proposed budget of July 2026 – June 2027, we reduced the amount raised by taxation by $3.0 million, we cut capital expenses by $4.0 million, and we reduced the taxpayer-supported capital (not bonded), by $1.2 million. That helped us push the Town-wide expense increase down to 2.3%. The amount raised by taxation is currently projected to increase 3.4% to cover increased expenses and a decrease in non-taxation revenues. The Board of Education budget increased 3% year over year.

Board of Finance

‘We Work Very Well Together To Provide a Leading School District’: Board of Finance Approves $185.2 Million Budget

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The Board of Finance last week unanimously approved a $185.2 million budget for fiscal year 2027, a 2.3% rise over current spending. 

The proposed spending plan includes a Board of Education expense budget of $117.2 million, after public school administrators found $1.6 million in savings to its own proposed budget, including in healthcare claims, and stands to find even more savings as the Town Council works toward a finalized spending plan for next fiscal year, according to finance board Chair Todd Lavieri. [Detailed budget documents, including the full Board of Finance recommendation, can be found here.]

After the Board of Finance proposed a $2 million reduction to the Board of Education’s spending plan for next fiscal year—a directive that galvanized members of the school board and general public (see below)—Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi identified $800,000 in savings through out-of-district placements, “turnover savings” and food service-related healthcare costs, Lavieri said during a regular meeting Thursday, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “Now, speaking of better data, as we get into the claims, as they come in, there’s an improvement in the claims and a reduction of another $300,000,” Lavieri said during introductory comments at the meeting. “Again, better data today or this week, or this last couple of weeks than was able to be forecasted back in December. So that’s $800,000 plus $300,000.”

Another $500,000 was found through the “internal services fund” in “money available for healthcare,” he said.

Board of Finance

Library Seeks $1 Million Grant from Town To Offset Estimated $2 Million Renovation of 1913 Building

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New Canaan Library officials are seeking a $1 million grant from the town to help redevelop its legacy building —about one-half of the cost of a project that the organization is planning. Tasked by the Planning & Zoning Commission with preserving the original 1913 building—which was not part of the library’s rebuilding plans—the library spent $2.4 million, an “additional cost that we undertook with our own cash and our own endowment reserves to preserve, pick up, lift and move that building,” according to library CEO Ellen Sullivan Crovatto. “This has left us with a very big hole to fill,” Sullivan Crovatto told members of the Board of Finance at their Feb. 5 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. She added: “I think the building’s new position has pleased pretty much everyone.

Government

The Playhouse: Feb. 9 Public Hearing Scheduled for New Operator’s Lease

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New Canaan’s highest elected official said this week that municipal officials have interviewed all parties interested in operating The Playhouse movie theater and the town “will be ready very soon” to take next steps. 

“We were encouraged by The Playhouse RFP responses,” First Selectman Dionna Carlson told members of the Board of Finance during the appointed body’s regular meeting, held Tuesday night at Town Hall and via videoconference. “We’ve had so many people interested in the RFP, [Department of Public Works Superintendent of Buildings] Bill [Oestmann] has been taking potential applicants through the building regularly,” Carlson said. The comments came during Carlson’s general update to the finance board. The following notice of a public hearing before the Town Council—scheduled for 7:30 p.m on Feb. 9 at Town Hall—appeared this week on the Elm Street movie theater: “To consider, hear public comment upon and take action on a proposal to lease the building known as The Playhouse, located at 93 Elm Street, New Canaan for a theater operator.

Opinion

Op-Ed: Mid-Year Update from Board of Finance

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[Todd Lavieri is chair of the Board of Finance.]
As we finish the calendar year of 2025, and the halfway mark of our financial year of 2025-2026, I wanted to share a few highlights and updates regarding our Town’s financials. Residents often ask for details and benchmark comparisons.  As I mentioned earlier this year, the average increase in the amount raised by taxation over the past 8 years, including next year’s budget, is 2.30%, a very strong accomplishment by our Town and Boards over this period, and far below the average rate of inflation.  Especially the inflation headwinds that we have experienced since 2021 including a 9% increase in inflation in 2022.  Our average increase of 2.30% is lower than most of our comparable Fairfield County towns.  We budget prudently and manage the budget to deliver surpluses.  We have delivered a combined total of $38M in budget surpluses since 2017 and have returned $36.5M of that back to the taxpayers by applying the surpluses to fund our education, and other expenses, reducing the demand for even higher property taxes. Our average increase in the amount raised by taxation for the period from 2017 through 2023 was 1.53%, an incredible achievement and one of the lowest in the County.  The past two years have been higher due to higher Board of Education budgets and Board of Education health care expenses, coupled with much higher recent inflation that has remained sticky.  As a reminder, our Board of Education budget represents approximately 66% of our total operating budget.  Our total town expenses have increased $20M over the past 4 years, with $17M of that increase attributed to increased spending in Education. Our foundational goals that we established 25 years ago for Finance are still solidly in place.  We want to continue to build and maintain a top school district.  Continue to have fully funded pensions that now allow us to have a lower tax burden today as the funds become largely self-funding, while avoiding punitive liabilities for future taxpayers.  Continue to maintain a beautiful and vibrant downtown business, shopping, and dining district.  Protect and maintain our parks and recreational assets.  Budget prudently.  And fully support our town’s emergency, health, public works, water, and safety services.  Throughout the years, we have worked to fund and deliver these services and support through prudent investments, always with an eye on the tax burden.  There is always pressure to do more and spend more.   The results have shown we can meet the growing demands and rising costs head on.