Proposed Fairfield Budget Includes 2.58 Percent Tax Increase

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield's first selectwoman presented a budget Monday that she said will lay the foundation for the town to grow economic development, improve services and save residents money in the long run. But to get those things, they'll have to pay a 2.58 percent tax increase for the coming fiscal year.

"It's time for our community to step up and invest back into our town," First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said as she presented her first budget as Fairfield's elected leader.

The 2020-21 budget totals $327.5 million, an $11.1 million — or 3.5 percent — increase compared to the previous year's budget, according to Kupchick's presentation. Although the budget includes a tax increase, tax relief for qualifying senior and disabled residents will be expanded by $200,000. The budget also anticipates an additional $2.1 million in revenue from a combination of permit and fire marshal fees and investment income.

Fairfield's budget includes two main components: funding for the town and for the school system.

The town section of the budget is expected to go up by $4.9 million — or 3.7 percent — year-over-year, to $137.8 million, the presentation said. Priorities include hiring a business development director, grant administrator and blight enforcement officer.

"This is how we grow our grand list — attracting businesses," Kupchick said.

Kupchick also addressed allocations for road maintenance, more staff and better bathrooms at the senior center, online permitting software, an automated employee time system, and plans to invest in public buildings and infrastructure.

"We need to modernize our town government," she said. "... Our buildings are in real need of investment — like serious, 911 need."

For the school board budget, a $5.7 million — or 3.1 percent — year-over-year increase is anticipated, with a total budget of $187.4 million, according to the presentation. The board requested $188.8 million, but the town is recommending $1.4 million in cuts, $800,000 of which will come out of insurance expenses that were originally overestimated.

Emergency communications, a join venture with Westport, is a relatively small section of the budget that is expected to see an increase of $500,000 — or 25.3 percent — from $1.9 million in 2019-20 to $2.4 million in 2020-21, the presentation said. This comes after a $2.9 million project was approved last year for the two towns to operate a shared emergency communications center at Sacred Heart University.

Although Kupchick has presented the budget, it is far from final, and must still be considered and approved by the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance and Representative Town Meeting. The last approval, from the town meeting, is not expected until May.

For more information, visit www.fairfieldct.org/budget.