Mill Rate Would Increase Under Proposed Fairfield Budget

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield’s mill rate would increase by about 1 percent under the first selectwoman’s 2023 budget, which she presented Wednesday to the Board of Selectmen.

The 0.98 percent change in the mill rate is part of First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick’s $342.7 million spending plan for the coming fiscal year. With a 3.12 percent year-over-year increase of about $10.4 million, the budget includes $1 million for paving, $1.4 million for capital improvements, and staffing changes to several departments. Kupchick also proposed increasing the school district budget by $7.9 million, $2.5 million less than what the Board of Education requested.

“There are a lot of competing needs in this community,” Kupchick said during the presentation, conducted via Webex. “I believe this budget is responsive to the needs of our residents and businesses, and most importantly, it is responsible to our taxpayers.”

When discussing the year-over-year increases, Kupchick cited the 7 percent spike in inflation, rising energy costs, supply chain disruptions, upcoming raises in the minimum wage, contractual union wage hikes and health insurance changes.

The proposed 2023 budget is funded by an additional $9.5 million in tax levy dollars compared to the 2022 spending plan, an extra $1 million in taxes and interest from the previous year, and $841,000 more in municipal aid. The budget has $985,000 less investment income funding than last year, according to Kupchick, who said Fairfield has taken steps to hire an expert to assist with future investment strategy. Kupchick also noted the town recently saw an influx of $6.7 million in taxes in connection with the sale of the 20-acre property at 1143 Sasco Hill Road.

“This budget is responsive and responsible,” Kupchick said, emphasizing her intention to “right-size” town government, an endeavor that includes personnel changes to a range of departments.

As part of the budget, the human resources department’s risk manager position would be eliminated and a full-time assistant director, human resources generalist and part-time diversity recruitment coordinator would be added. In the engineering department, engineer drafter and instrument operator roles would be replaced with a senior civil engineer and project manager. The police department would get two new officers, the conservation department would receive a part-time administrator, and the job of social services director would go from part-time to full-time.

The $1.4 million for capital needs would fund vehicles, equipment and technology for Fairfield’s public safety, public works and information technology teams. In addition to the $1 million for paving included in the operating budget, another approximately $3 million in paving work is planned for 2023, which would be funded by $1.25 million in federal grant money, $1 million from the 2022 surplus and $780,000 in proposed bonds.

Kupchick’s budget is far from final. The Board of Selectmen began hearings Wednesday on the plan and is expected to take a budget vote Monday. The plan will then go to the Board of Finance and the Representative Town Meeting for consideration. The process will conclude in May.