No Tax Increase: Danbury Mayor Proposes $262M Budget

DANBURY, CT — Mayor Mark Boughton has proposed a $262 million budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year that would not raise residents' taxes. The mill rate would stay the same for the third straight year, at 27.60.

The city's portion of the budget is $126.3 million, and the schools will receive another $135.7 million. The Board of Education will pick up an additional $9.8 million from non-taxpayer sources, including coronavirus relief, grants, and unused funds from the current year. By statute, any unused BOE funds must be returned to the city, but Boughton's proposed budget would allow the Board of Ed to use the estimated $2.0 million surplus that is returned to it to create new fund reserves.

The budget represents a 0.2 percent increase in spending. Historically, the spend typically increased by about 2.25 percent each year.

"The FY 2020-2021 Budget demonstrates a heightened sensitivity and awareness during this COVID-19 pandemic and resulting national economic crisis to the tax burden for those who own property within the City of Danbury. For the second consecutive year, no more will be asked of the Danbury taxpayer to pay for City services," Boughton wrote in his summary of the budget.

Boughton is taking advantage of Gov. Ned Lamont's executive order that allows for the passage of the budget without approval by the City Council. Public comments on the budget are being accepted until 5 p.m. July 2 at comments@danbury-ct.gov.