Budgets and Potential Mill Rate Reduced

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Revised budget proposals for the Town and school district, presented at a lightly attended Board of Finance public hearing on April 2, nearly flatten year-to-year increases and send the potential mill rate even lower than projected a few weeks ago.

First Selectwoman Samantha Nestor announced budget adjustments totaling nearly $1.2 million, driven mostly by offsets from closed-out capital projects and nearly half a million dollars more expected from investment income.

The result, said Ms. Nestor, is total budget growth that is “essentially flat,” increasing by just over $85,000, a hair above one-tenth of a percent.

This would result in a mill rate of 23.92, compared to the 24.28 projected earlier, and before the Board of Finance possibly takes other action when budget deliberations and decision-making begin on April 4.

A 23.92 mill rate would result in a slightly higher property tax bill for homes where the valuation rose by the average, 42.1 percent. Much of that could be offset by savings on motor vehicle taxes, depending on the number of vehicles and their value.

Those whose homes appreciated just a bit less, say 40 percent, would see a tax cut.

The next task for the Board of Finance is to finalize budgets to submit to the Annual Town Budget Meeting, which takes place on Wednesday, April 24 in the Weston High School auditorium at 8:00 pm.

The Budget Referendum, a machine ballot vote, takes place on Saturday, May 4 from 12:00 to 8:00 at Town Hall. The Board of Finance is scheduled to meet on the following Monday to set the final mill rate.

Ms. Nestor, Board of Finance members Theresa Brasco, Jeffrey Farr, and chair Michael Imber.

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