North Branford Town Council OKs Additional Budget Reductions

NORTH BRANFORD, CT — In a special meeting Tuesday, the North Branford Town Council approved additional reductions to their 2025-26 recommended budget following rejection of the budget in the Annual Budget Referendum, Town Manager Michael Downes said.

The budget passed the Town Council on a roll call vote of 5-4 and takes effect July 1, 2025.

The new budget adjustments make another $446,499 in reductions to the Town operating and capital budgets. No additional reductions were made to the Board of Education budget, ho noted.

The changes result in a $64,693,639 budget, representing a 4.62% increase over the prior year, and a new mill rate of 27.61. According to the Town Charter, the Council had until June 1, 2025, to pass a new budget following rejection at the referendum. The Charter makes no provision for additional referendums and Council’s action is final.

"The budget year was made especially challenging owing to the state-mandated revaluation process which saw residential property increase in value significantly- something happening to all surrounding towns that have recently gone through the revaluation process," Downes said.

Cuts made by the Council included the elimination of a part-time library position, and significant reductions in hours in the Libraries, Town Clerk’s Office, Parks & Recreation, and Public Works Departments, Downes said.

The Council also acted on over $16,000 of savings from the renegotiation of the Animal Control agreement with the Town of East Haven, and $15,000 of good faith concessions from the town’s trash hauling company, John’s Refuse, with no impact on service, according to Downes. Over $30,000 of savings were realized by reducing brush cutting, guardrail repair and outside plowing in the Public Works budget.

"Increases in the budget are driven largely by inflation, increased costs in materials and supplies, contracts, insurance, and personnel, as well as increasing debt service mostly associated with the new high school and police department projects," the Town Manager said. "This is coupled with a significant decrease in state aid in the Governor’s proposed budget."