New Canaan Board Of Selectmen Approve $183.10M Budget For 2025-26

NEW CANAAN, CT — On Thursday, the Board of Selectmen approved a total expenditure budget of $183.10 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year, representing an increase of 4.67 percent over the 2024-25 fiscal year budget.

According to a news release provided by the town, the selectmen's budget recommendation will now go to the Board of Finance for review in February. A Board of Finance budget recommendation will then go before the Town Council by March 13.

The Town Council may accept, reduce or reject the Board of Finance's budget recommendation at a budget meeting scheduled for April 3, town officials said.

According to town officials, the total expenditure budget includes town department operations expense of $34.9 million (up 3.29 percent), Board of Education operating expenses of $114.24 million (up 4.67 percent), debt service of $18.11 million and tax-supported capital projects of $1.73 million.

"The fiscal year 2025-2026 total expenditure budget approved Thursday, Jan. 30 for the Board of Finance to consider represents a 4.67 percent increase over the current year's expense budget," First Selectman Dionna Carlson said in a news release. "This budget does not consider approximately 1 percent in projected revenue that we will have greater visibility into during the Board of Finance and Town Council reviews."

According to Carlson, the Board of Selectmen's approved budget reflects a commitment to hold the line on spending while maintaining services to town residents and continually striving for improvements and efficiencies.

"Continued pressure from inflation, increased expenses for the police department, library, and the school district along with health and pension benefits are the primary drivers of the proposed budget increase," Carlson said. "As we gain more insight into the current year revenue and expenses during the coming months, I remain optimistic that we will find additional opportunities to reduce the FY 2025-2026 budget before it becomes final in April."

Carlson also noted the town assessor has reported that the town's 2024 Grand List increased by 0.38 percent to $9.949 billion from the 2023 Grand List of $9.903 billion.