With Revenues Equaling Appropriations, $98M Town, Schools Budget OK'd

EAST HAVEN, CT — Tuesday, the East Haven Town Council approved the 2022-2023 fiscal year budget.

The spending plan represents an even split between revenues and expenditures, officials said. And, Mayor Joseph A. Carfora said that the budget lowers the mill rate by 3.05 mills to 31.20.

"Last evening’s Town Council vote ended months of hard work by our department heads, the Board of Finance, the Town Council, and the Mayor’s office," Carfora said in a statement.

"This year’s budget represents and supports the best for our community. It funds our police and fire departments, as well as our education system, and provides a clear and calculated path to a better quality of life for our taxpayers," he noted.

Given it's a reevaluation year, where interest rates, housing supply and demand, and COVID 19 increased the values of homes everywhere, it was imperative that we lower our mill rate to offset as much of these record increases as possible, Carfora said.

Council Chair Joe Deko and vice chairman Lou Pacelli led members through a "vigorous review and debate, evaluating all points of view."

"Their efforts directly reflected a preparation and attention to detail that set and exceeded the professional standard we now expect," Carfora said.

Budget bottom line

The budget recommendations, with some slight, positive changes, received unanimous support from every Democrat and every Republican on the Board of Finance, as well as the support of every Democrat present and every Republican on the Town Council, the mayor said.

"With unanimous support, we as a community note that all parties realize we are making reasoned and responsible efforts to stabilize this town, to grow this town, and to place it on sound financial footing," Carfora said.

Carfora also praised East Haven Finance Director Jim Keeley noting he "deserves so much credit."

"His guidance, his knowledge and his patience are special virtues, and so very important. We are fortunate to have him," Carfora said. "While there are always more goals to accomplish, we can say with optimism that together we will continue to march on to a brighter, better and united East Haven."

Here's the full 2022-2023 FY budget:

East Haven 2022-2023 FY Bud... by Ellyn Santiago