Chairman: Finance Board Recommends Budget with Lowest Requested Tax Rate Percentage Increase Since 1999

One common theme in public feedback at Avon's budget hearing Monday was asking the Board of Finance to get behind the proposed $81.76 million budget and let the voters decide on the original request.

The finance board listened, voting unanimously Wednesday to endorse the budget without making any reductions or adjustments. 

“The spending levels in the budgets presented required the 2.6 tax rate increase," Board of Finance Chairman Thomas Harrison said Thursday. “That is absolutely the lowest tax rate increase that has been presented at the public hearing.”

The finance board did not request any changes, but gave Town Manager Brandon Robertson and Finance Director Margaret "Peggy" Colligan authority to make "minor rounding adjustments" to keep the tax rate increase at 2.6 percent, Harrison said.

It may be the first time in history since Avon started having budget referendums in 1999 that the finance board recommended a budget as presented, Harrison said.

All six board members present voted for it and spoke highly of the strong cooperation and communication between the finance board, Board of Education and Town Council in the process. Board member James Speich was not at the meeting, but submitted a letter in his absence indicating his support for the budget as proposed.

“We had no problem at all recommending it to the voters," Harrison said. “I think it’s due in large part to recognition of what the voter’s comfort level is." 

The general vibe the finance board observed from voters was that the budget and tax rate increase was affordable, he said.

“It’s certainly a factor that people are urging us to put out a budget well in the range of a tax increase we tend to favor," Harrison said. 

Harrison said that the board also commends Robertson and Superintendent Gary Mala for their work on budget proposal development. He also said that Mala's way of being open and transparent in the budget crafting process also helped.

Board members complimented the school administration's reasonable funding requests for school security enhancements following the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. 

“In light of a very tragic situation in Newtown, our elected official acted very maturely and responsibly," Harrison said.

Board members also supported that more money was designated in the budget proposal for capital projects.  

Harrison said that the three "R's" of budgeting are responsiveness to needs of the community, rational development of a budget request and staying realistic. 

“I think these budgets passed all three tests with flying colors," Harrison said. 

The annual town meeting is scheduled for May 6 at 7 p.m. at the Avon Senior Center. While the finance board cannot change anything at that point in the budget request before the referendum, residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and share thoughts on the proposal before they vote on it. 

Avon taxpayers and eligible voters will then have the opportunity to vote yes or no on the budget from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 15 as it was presented at the public hearing and budget workshop. Immediately after the votes are counted, the finance board will have a special meeting to officially adopt the budget. 

“I’m very pleased that the Board of Finance was able to recommend this budget and I ardently urge my fellow Avon residents to support this budget," Harrison said. "It’s a fair and very well balanced budget that will be good for the town and the schools and is fair to the taxpayers."

If you could vote today, would you vote yes or no on this budget? Why? Tell us in the comments!

Editor's Note: The original headline on this article said that the budget approved by the finance board was the lowest tax increase since 1999. It was actually the lowest tax rate percentage increase presented to the finance board by the Town Council for the budget workshop since the town started holding referendums in 1999. The headline has been updated to reflect the correction.