On April 19, 2020, the Board of Finance completed its responsibilities per our Town Charter and adopted their adjustments to the budget. As new information became available during the process, both the Town Council and Board of Finance made additional adjustments, many at my recommendation, and all of which I supported.
This final proposed budget would result in a projected tax rate increase of 1.38%. This is a five-year average of less than 1% per year.
Through this collaborative effort, the proposed FY23 budget:
- Continues to control taxes through a conservative approach to spending, while improving roads and infrastructure and delivering cost-effective services.
- Reduces the need for bonding for smaller capital projects.
- Fully funds the Board of Education’s requested budget appropriation largely driven by increased student enrollment and pandemic-related student needs.
- Provides contingency funding for the uncertainty in costs of fuel and healthcare insurance.
- Keeps the total increase in municipal operational expenditures well below the significantly higher rates of inflation and the cost of goods and services.
- Makes prudent use of grants and alternative funding sources to minimize the burden to taxpayers.
Without our growth in the grand list, a conservative and disciplined approach to spending, and use of alternative funding, taxes would have grown by over 10%, a rate I believe would be unacceptable to most.
I greatly appreciate the dedication of our staff, educators, and our volunteers – including those serving on boards and commissions – who contributed to this year’s budget process. I am very appreciative for the time and due diligence of our Town Council and Board of Finance, both of which approved their proposed budgets in unanimous, bipartisan votes. I now submit the final proposed Annual Town Budget for Fiscal Year 2023 to the Annual Budget Referendum, and encourage the citizens of Monroe to exercise their right to vote on May 3, 2022.
- Ken Kellogg, First Selectman
My full budget discussion and all budget documents are available at monroect.qscend.com/budget.
Kenneth M. Kellogg
First Selectman
Town of Monroe
203-452-2821
monroect.qscend.com