FAIRFIELD — The Board of Finance on Wednesday approved a $383,922,025 fiscal year 2026 budget, which would mark a 3.9% increase, or $14.1 million more than the current budget.
The Representative Town Meeting is scheduled to discuss the plan later this month and vote on May 5.
The finance board voted 5-4 after members agreed to increase a number of revenue line items for $1.4 million. That included restoring an additional $1 million to the Board of Education budget, a change in the town government’s health insurance coverage to avoid more than $1 million in cost increases. Surplus funds, accumulated from over-taxation during prior administrations, were returned to residents by keeping the mill rate increase low while funding the rebuilding of long-ignored and deteriorating town infrastructure.
“Despite significant financial headwinds, this budget moves the town forward with robust education funding, enhancements to public safety, funding for critical infrastructure, and organizational changes that permit improved operational and financial management,” said Lori Charlton, finance board chair.
“I thank the administration and the Board of Education for doing the hard work of identifying cost savings and revenue to fund these initiatives while maintaining a modest tax increase, and I look forward to the RTM’s input.”
Key budget highlights:
- Education investment: Restores an additional $1 million to the education budget.
- Critical infrastructure: Funds critical infrastructure improvements, including the town’s deteriorating sewer system and HVAC needs in public schools.
- Risk management: Funds a risk manager to lead the analysis of insurance coverage and claims, and to identify and address other town risks.
- Parking authority: Transforms the independent Parking Authority to a town department to improve the commuter experience and streamline operations through shared services with the town including paving, engineering, construction, maintenance and enforcement. It will also facilitate the integration of parking into planning for town development and traffic.
- Public safety enhancements: Implements automated speeding enforcement in school zones for public safety as part of the town’s commitment to Vision Zero. Additionally, funds five new police officers to address resource constraints and reduce overtime.
- Capital projects group: Provides project management expertise to reduce reliance on outside construction management contractors, and strengthens planning and financial controls.
- Grants: Funds a full-time grants manager (formerly part-time) to more proactively identify funding opportunities at the state and federal level.
- Community services: Brings together two departments — Parks and Recreation and Human and Social Services — under a single umbrella, called Community Services. The previous Parks and Recreation Director, now the Community Services chief, can utilize buildings, personnel, and other resources for more comprehensive programming for residents, from toddlers to seniors.
“I have been a consistent advocate for public education funding throughout my 10 years on the RTM and my tenure as first selectman,” said First Selectman Bill Gerber. “I am proud of the hard work we did to find efficiencies and savings that enabled the Board of Finance to restore additional funding to the education budget.”
