Canton Budget Shortfall: Voters To Decide A Solution

CANTON, CT — Voters have some work to do on Wednesday, Oct. 11, as they must undertake some fiscal housekeeping to ensure past budgets are properly funded.

The Canton Board of Selectmen on Sept. 27 voted 4-0 to schedule the town meeting, which is Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. in Room F of the Canton Community Center, 40 Dyer Ave., Canton.

There, voters will decide to take funds out of the town's undesignated fund balance — essentially surplus funds — and apply them to two separate portions of the 2022-23 fiscal year town budgets.

In one proposed budget transfer, voters will have to transfer $275,871 from the undesignated fund balance to the general fund to cover various deficits in the budget.

Meanwhile, they also must transfer $181,559 from the undesignated fund balance to cover deficits in emergency medical services special revenue.

Selectmen said at the Sept. 27 meeting that Canton has the dollars to make those transfers, but they require town meeting approval to be finalized.

The Canton Board of Finance has also reviewed the situation and stated this was the best way to address the budget issues.

For the minutes of the Sept. 27 Canton Board of Selectmen meeting, click on this link.