Decision Reached On 2025-26 Government Operating Budget In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — Along party lines Monday night, Fairfield's Representative Town Meeting approved the town's operating budget of $383,922,025 for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

The RTM's Democratic majority voted in favor of the spending plan: Dave Rock, Robert Ellwanger, Cindy Waldron, Myke Nicholas Hartigan, Marcy Spolyar, Liz Zezima, Laura Karson, Michelle Lapine McCabe, Josh Garskof, Kristin O'Neill, Jay Wolk, Sharon Pistilli, Rob Blanchard, Nancy Donne, Erik Drewniak, Alexandra Ocampo, John Kuhn, Steve Berecz, Lori Burns-Galdenzi, Scott Nickel, Christopher Carroll, Lenny Braman, Lisa Havey, Mark McDermott, Karen Wackerman, Justin Contratto, Pierre Ratzki, and Margaret Horton. Absent from the vote were Democrats Tara Cook-Littman, Dru Mercer Georgiadis and Matt Ambrose.

Republicans who opposed the budget were: Ken Astarita, Peter Britton, Melissa Longo, Brooke Sparacino, Meghan McCloat, Christopher Shea, Jeff Steele, Collin Colburn and Christine Ludwiczak.

A recording of Monday's RTM meeting can be viewed here.

The budget includes a $1.4 million increase in projected revenues and restores $1 million to the Board of Education budget.

Taxes are expected to rise slightly under the budget, but the final mill rate, or tax rate, will be set by the Board of Finance at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday (the agenda for Thursday's meeting can be viewed here, but was not online as of Tuesday).

Budget documents can be viewed here.

During Monday's meeting, RTM Democratic Caucus Leader Zezima praised the passage of the budget.

"I am proud of our Democratic caucus for unanimously passing a smart sensible budget at [Monday's] RTM meeting," Zezima said in a statement, which can be read in full here. "I am disappointed that none of our Republican colleagues joined us. They failed to offer an explanation to the public about why they did not support a fiscally sound blueprint for the next fiscal year.

"This was a difficult budget to navigate. No department received all the funding they requested.

"Some of the headwinds we faced included very modest grand list growth and a much larger than expected increase in education spending."

Democratic RTM member Rob Blanchard said he supported the budget because it was fair to the town at-large.

"It does strike the right balance by making us, again, an attractive place for education and quality of life, for a lot of families, seniors, who we hope will retire here or start their businesses here," Blanchard said.

The Fairfield Republican Town Committee issued a statement, claiming the spending plan is wasteful.

"While the budget contains a few worthwhile elements, the final product favors bureaucracy, unsustainable spending, and political convenience over sound fiscal policy and transparent governance," Republican officials wrote.

In a statement following Monday's vote, RTM Deputy Republican Caucus Leader Astarita said the budget does a disservice to the town's residents.

"It’s deeply disappointing, but unfortunately not surprising, that the Democratic majority on the RTM chose to rubber stamp the Gerber administration’s budget," Astarita said. "This budget raises taxes, requires generous revenue projections which if not met could result in mid-year program cuts, and misplaces priorities at every turn.

"While families are tightening their belts, this budget hands out generous raises to the First Selectman’s office, rewards a politically connected COO with a $100,000 car, and stretches needed additional staffing in our police department over multiple budgets, despite significant needs like this weekend’s troubling incident at Villa Ave, where police services were stretched thin.

"Our residents deserved a better budget. The Democrat super majority has failed Fairfield."