On Feb. 6, Town Manager Karl Kilduff presented the Town Council with an initial proposed budget for the next fiscal year that raises spending by 4.37% and taxes by 5.10%. However, these numbers are subject to change before residents cast their votes at a referendum in May.

Under the current proposal, the total proposed budget is $64,863,952, a $2,714,997 or 4.37% increase from the current year’s budget. The tax rate is set to increase by 5.10%

The total budget is comprised of a town budget and an education budget. The proposed town budget for 2024-’25 is $24,039,128, an increase of $663,050 or 2.84% over the current budget. The proposed education budget is $40,824,814, an increase of $2,051,937 or 5.29%

The meeting on Feb. 6 was called so that Kilduff and Superintendent of Schools Maryann O’Donnell could present the proposed town and Board of Education (BOE) budgets to the council members. Since the presentation was intended to be an overview, specific line items were not discussed at the meeting.

Both Kilduff and O’Donnell mentioned multiple times at the special meeting that the proposed budget is subject to change and that certain numbers are assumed. As the budget season continues and those exact quantities become known, the proposed budget will likely be adjusted by the time the final proposed budget is forwarded to voters.

While spending increases by 4.37% under the proposed budget, the tax rate would increase by 5.10%. Kilduff explained that the difference between the budget increase and the tax rate is due to shrinking in the grand list and a lower appropriation of money from the fund balance than has been used in recent years. The mill rate would increase by 5.10% (1.52 mills) to 31.35 mills.

Proposed capital projects—spending on items that last longer than a budget cycle, like vehicles or roof repairs—include projects like fire apparatus reserves, paving, sidewalks, and state-mandated projects.

On the town side, the proposed budget is made up of an operating budget of $18,857,039 (a $655,508 or 3.60% increase), debt service of $1,866,173 (a $248,667 or 11.76% decrease), and a capital budget of $3,315,916 (a $256,209 or 8.37% increase).

The drivers of increased spending on the town side include items like increased insurance costs, inflation, program growth, state mandates, and municipal solid waste costs.

The proposed education budget is composed of an operating budget of $37,146,039 (a $1,849,563 or 5.24% increase), debt service of $3,177,554 (a $271,719 or 9.35% increase), and a capital budget of $501,221 (a $69,345 or a 12.15% decrease.)

Drivers of change on the education side include increases in salaries, employee health insurance, goods and services, out-of-district student tuition costs, and out-of-district transportation costs.

Many Steps to Go

While no two budget seasons are identical, it’s likely the current proposed budget will be altered in some way by the time residents show up to Town Hall to cast their votes. For example, last year, the budget voters ultimately approved in May was $628,706 less than the first initial proposed budget Kilduff presented to the council in February 2023

Now, the proposed budget has moved into the hands of the Town Council members. The council is the body that has the ultimate say in proposing a finalized budget. The council will have more in-depth discussions at the budget workshops held during the rest of February. Each individual department has its budget reviewed line item by line item.

Following all the workshops, the council will hold a special meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. to vote on a finalized proposed budget. At that meeting, the council can accept or ask for changes to be made to the budget.

The proposed town and education budgets will then be sent to a public hearing in April.

At the public hearing, speakers can voice their opinions for or against either the education or town budget. Immediately following the public hearing, the Town Council will hold a special meeting at which it can make any last changes to either the education or town budget before sending the budgets to a referendum in May.

At the referendum, residents vote to approve or reject the proposed town and education budgets individually. Since voters cast their vote for each budget separately, that means it is possible for voters to pass one budget and reject the other in the same referendum.

If one or both of the budgets fail, it is revised by the Town Council immediately following the vote. Another public hearing is held the following week, and another referendum is held the week after that public hearing.

While that process is largely familiar, the 2024 budget cycle presents some new challenges. In December 2023, Kilduff announced he would be leaving Clinton to take a job in Weston.

Kilduff’s last day in Clinton will be Monday, Feb. 19, right in the middle of budget season. The town has named Richard Brown interim manager effective Feb. 19 while the council looks for a new full-time manager.

Town Council Chairperson Carrie Allen previously said she was confident the town could get through the budget process even with Kilduff leaving.

“I am relieved to have the time we do with Karl, and unlike most years, this month of February will be dedicated almost entirely to our focus on the budget. Again, when Karl was hired by Weston, he made it clear to them that, if needed, he would make himself available to Clinton for 60 days after his departure,” Allen said earlier in 2024.

The Harbor News/Zip06.com will follow the budget process and will have more in-depth looks at each budget as the process continues.