New Canaan Selectmen Seek $151.18M Budget For 2019-20

NEW CANAAN, CT — Looking to keep spending as low as possible for the upcoming fiscal year, the New Canaan Board of Selectmen Tuesday approved a Total Expenditure Budget of $151.18 million for fiscal year 2020, representing an increase of 0.16 percent over the current year's allocation.

The increase is the lowest town-wide budget increase in the last decade, according to First Selectman Kevin Moynihan.

"We can't get to a zero increase without laying people off," said Moynihan recently, adding that the only new position in next year's budget is one for the Department of Public Works that has been requested for three years.

The Selectmen’s budget recommendation next goes to the Board of Finance for review in February and March, where it may be adjusted. The Board of Finance's budget recommendation then will go to the Town Council, which may accept, reduce or reject the recommendation by April 4.

The Total Expenditure Budget includes Board of Education operating expenses of $91.58 (up 2.03 percent over this year), Town operating expenses of $41.66 million (up 1.54 percent), debt service of $16.21 million (down 9.39 percent), and tax-funded capital projects of $1.72 million (down 23.47 percent).

"The Board of Selectmen’s 2020 Budget represents a very lean budget on the Town side and I know that Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi is looking forward to discussing the Board of Education’s budget with the Board of Finance when they begin their reviews next Tuesday," said Moynihan Wednesday. "The proposed 0.16 percent increase in the Total Expenditure Budget is the lowest increase in the last 10 years."

Moynihan noted that the Town Assessor reported on Monday that the town’s 2018 Grand List declined 7.19 percent to $7.74 billion from the 2017 Grand List of $8.34 billion. The drop was as a result of the 2018 Revaluation (as of October 1, 2018), which was primarily due to lower valuations of homes valued at more than $2 million. The overall average decrease in residential property values was 7.2 percent, according to Moynihan, while commercial property values increased by an average of 10.8 percent.

"The reduction in the Grand List will result in an increase in the mill rate from the current 16.96 to about 18.32, subject to Board of Finance and Town Council final budget actions," Moynihan said.

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