To the Editor:
On Tuesday May 5th, the voters of Monroe will have their chance to vote on the proposed town budget for 2026-2027. I’m suggesting and requesting that they approve the budget with a very strong yes vote.
I believe that this budget deserves a yes vote because I believe it is a balanced budget that considers both the real needs of the town and the impact to the citizens. It is also a budget that went through significant changes as it moved through the process. Consider the following:
The first step, taken by the Board of Education was to reduce the superintendent’s proposal by $250,000. This reduction was significant because 98 percent of the superintendent’s request was contractual (eg salaries and insurance to maintain the same levels of programs and services) or required spending (eg transportation and special education).
When the first selectman presented his budget proposal to the Town Council in early February, he reduced the Board of Education’s funding request by another $1,603,230. His proposal was also dealing with a projected 15 percent increase in insurance costs, which affected both portions (Board of Education and municipal) of the budget.
After the Town C0uncil passed the municipal portion of the budget it went to the Board of Finance. By then we learned that insurance would only increase by 12.5 percent. This provided a needed savings in projected expenses but remains a problem over which we have no control.
The most important change took place after the first selectman met with the superintendent and the town’s director of finance to review the budget impacts in detail. During the first Board of Finance meeting in March after they received the budget, the first selectman recommended that the Board of Finance add back $1,200,000.
During the Board of Finance’s multiple workshops, more funds were budgeted to come from our general fund, thereby reducing the tax impact to everyone. Changes were also made to the amount of income from our investments, again resulting in reduced tax impacts. The Board of Finance also took the hard step to delay some capital projects or purchases, even though the needs were clear.
The superintendent offered that adjustments could be made to the school system’s insurance contingency, which the Board of Finance did. This was yet another change that has never been done before.
Beyond all the changes that took place, this budget deserves a yes because of all the work and detailed reviews that it has been through.
The budget that the citizens will be voting on has gone through the Town Charter required process in which the top 25 elected officials have taken part in its crafting. All these people, including me, were elected by the voters and entrusted to act in the best interest of the town, which I believe they have done. The nine member Board of Education reviewed in detail the superintendent’s proposed budget, including independently meeting with key school system personnel to understand their needs and the rationale for their funding requests.
The nine members of the Town Council reviewed the municipal portion of the budget, including directly questioning various department heads. The Council then passed it unanimously and sent it to the Board of Finance, on which I serve.
Of the three elected bodies, the Board of Finance is the only one required to look at all the town expenses together and, just as critical, the sources of revenue, both from property taxes and from non-tax sources. Even though the Town Council had questioned town department heads, the Board of Finance further questioned them plus we heard directly from the superintendent of schools.
Part of the Board of Finance’s review of the school budget was to conduct a line-by-line review. Thirty-two pages and I estimate around 1,000 specific line items.
The Board of Finance also held a Charter required public hearing which followed a regular meeting that was standing room only in the Town Council Chambers. I would like to thank all the people who came out, who spoke, and who flooded me with e-mails.
The Board of Finance had multiple workshops with some very long hours to go over every detail. We had spirited discussions and debate. All of us grappled with how to include items we thought were the most critical while considering the impact to the citizens. In the end, all members of the Board voted unanimously to send the budget to the voters.
I believe that the careful work of the boards and of the first selectman means that the people of Monroe should understand that this proposal represents only necessary spending and taxation.
The voters also need to understand that the Board of Finance took some significant steps both to include significant items and to help shield the public from even greater tax impacts.
This budget includes an increase in the senior tax relief program. Last year we increased the range of income that qualifies and this year we increased the amount of possible relief.
This budget includes funding for two police officers so that the night shift has one patrol officer in each of the town’s four quadrants. Our police are our first responders so this is a critical resource.
This budget continues funding our road construction and reconstruction program.
This budget keeps the school system operating at the same level of programs, services and opportunities for our children as we have today.
The Board of Finance added an additional $669,000 to be taken from the general fund (aka savings; aka rainy day fund) on top of what the first selectman had proposed. This was done because we were trying to minimize the tax impact to everyone.
As I said at the start of this letter, this is a budget that considered all the issues. I think it is a necessary budget. Therefore, again, I ask you to please vote yes on Tuesday.
I am a member of the Board of Finance, but the above thoughts are mine alone and I am not speaking for the Board.
Steve Kirsch
Member, Monroe Board of Finance
