MONROE, Conn. — First Selectman Terry Rooney read the following letter to the Board of Finance at its meeting Thursday night, while recommending that $1.2 million be put back into the Board of Education budget proposal for fiscal year 2026-27:
To the Board of Finance,
This administration understands the frustration, the disappointment, and the anger many feel about the reduction of the planned increase to our education budget. When it comes to our children’s future emotions run deep and they should. Nothing matters more to a community than the opportunities we create for the next generation. In talking to several people in town daily from diverse cultural, political and financial demographics there are many opposing positions, however two stand out. Those who want more money invested in education and those who do not.
Although many people who implore this office for lower taxes do not wish to speak publicly; many have asked me to share their concerns. That message is simply “taxes are too high”. As a resident of Monroe for now almost 30 yrs they are not incorrect. This administration has been creative with its operations with a grant writer to help both education and municipal and was successful receiving $707,384 which has increased $110,000 from a Federal congressional grant approval received for our Police Department just a week ago.
This administration started a paving program to limit expensive outside contracting costs for roads by using Town staff. This administration also reduced costs in construction on every capitol project done such as the animal control facility and the future community center wall.
This administration has fought to save taxpayer money and will continue.
As Board of Finance members, you are fully aware of the challenges and know this reduction was not made lightly, nor was it made in isolation. Over the last several budget cycles Monroe has faced increasing operational costs, infrastructure repairs and a lack of state level funding adjustments that hit us harder than anticipated. These elements forced this administration to make difficult decisions.
A reduction in any increase whether municipal or education is not a reduction in our commitment.
In the last months many important metrics within this budget have become points of concern such as health insurance premiums which dropped from a projected 15% currently in the budget to an actual 12.5% increase conveyed to us by the State. This results in an approximate savings of $250,000 for education and $80,000 for the municipal side of this budget. This administration also requested clarification in Excess cost from the board of education which revealed a projected funding shortfall from the State of $717,000 for Fiscal year 26/27.
I was elected by this town to control taxation and with the State mandated revaluation in 2024 many folks have experienced duress in their ability to financially maintain the homes they have lived in for decades. To some this was a setback and to others this was life changing.
The projection of the 26/27 budget calculations shows 68% of every tax dollar being allocated to education. A cost our stakeholders have agreed to fund through passed referendums along with our current and historic collection rate of around 99%.
Excess Cost funding which has been underfunded by about $2,900,000 in just the last 5 years alone. Folks this is not a political thing. We need to recognize it’s simply a fact that can no longer be ignored. Municipalities across the state as well as the Connecticut Council of Municipalities (CCM) are rallying around this. This administration has been steadfast on this issue with the help of our state representatives and senators.
Great news is Hartford is now listening!
As your First Selectman I recognize our town is at a crossroad. We are seeing new and exciting development interest in Monroe with our current mill rate 28.67. One objective of this budget was to keep Monroe competitive to attract business investment. A mill rate below 30 has been communicated as being optimal for business investments.
As this administration has to strike a balance between several variables in town, our job is to make sure we construct budgets around current facts and data as well as what’s important to the taxpayers in Monroe.
This Administration has reduced the municipal budget through daily operational awareness, the use of grants such as Town aid road from the State and our police private duty funds. This budget has also motivated the Board of Education to explore budgetary efficiencies that could be gained through a deep dive of operations to help strengthen public trust in the spending within the Board of Education.
As the budget process has continued, the Board of Education chairman Dennis Condon, Superintendent Joe Kobza and Director of Municipal and Education finance Ron Bunovsky have collaborated in peeling back underlying budgetary challenges.
As your First Selectman it is my recommendation to the Board of finance to adjust my original reduction of $1,603,230 to $403,230.
This request reflects an additional $1,200,000 million in support of education above the original increase of $2,000,000.
This allows for our community chose the financial direction of our Town by exercising their right to vote on May 5th in the annual budget referendum.
Thank you for your attention,
Terrence P. Rooney
First Selectman
All respectful comments with the commenter’s first and last name are welcome.
