Milford Board of Finance adopts $114.02 million school contribution after debate; mill rate set at 29.58 mills

The Milford Board of Finance voted to approve a $114,017,417 appropriation for the Board of Education on March 19, 2025, following multiple competing motions and several rounds of discussion. The board also adopted a 2025–26 mill rate of 29.58 mills, a 0.44‑mill increase from 29.14 last year.

Board of Finance members debated multiple amendment proposals before adopting the final education number. An initial motion to fund the Board of Education at $115,304,923 failed. A later amendment proposing a 3.5% increase — described by its sponsor as “about ensuring a fair and balanced approach for all of Milford citizens” — also failed to gain majority support. After additional motions and numerical adjustments, the board approved $114,017,417 by roll call, with three votes in favor and two opposed.

Why it matters: the education appropriation represents a majority share of city expenditures and drives the tax calculation. Finance staff reported a current‑year tax base of $228,417,328 and total general fund revenues of $264,903,595; those numbers were used to calculate the mill rate. “The current year taxes number is $228,417,328 giving us a total general fund budget and total general fund revenues of $264,903,595,” Finance Director Peter reported to the board during the hearing.

Debate highlights

Supporters of fully funding the board argued that maintaining school funding creates stability for students and families and preserves programs. “I’m in support of fully funding this education budget in Milford. We don’t know what the world of education is going to look like in the next 6 months. We have the ability tonight to create stability in Milford for our students and our families,” one board member said during discussion.

Members proposing reductions or smaller increases emphasized tax‑base pressure from a recent revaluation and declining enrollment. One motion sponsor noted the city lost approximately $80,000,000 in taxable value after the Connecticut Post Mall revaluation and said a more modest increase would spread burden across taxpayers while still increasing school funding above recent long‑term averages.

The board discussed enrollment trends and staffing: members referenced a roughly 13% decline in student enrollment over the past decade and said teacher counts have declined proportionately, preserving pupil‑to‑teacher ratios. At least one member also referenced a recently approved $1,000,000 bond for an esports arena as a factor in budget priorities.

Other budget actions and numbers

The board approved a series of mayor‑recommended departmental budgets and technical adjustments by motion, often unanimously. Those approvals covered general municipal departments, permitting and land use (with a technical adjustment to advertising), finance department technical changes (including a $90,000 revaluation operations line), sewer and enterprise fund revenues/expenditures, the recreation department (with a $10,000 seasonal staffing increase to address minimum wage changes), and a number of smaller commissions and outside agencies as listed in the docket. Many of those items were approved without extended debate.

On taxes and mill rate

Following adoption of revenues and expenditures the board approved the current year taxes figure and the mill rate. Finance staff calculated the certified grand list at $7,925,657,664 and the board approved a mill rate of 29.58 mills for 2025–26, a 1.5% increase in the mill rate (0.44 mills). The mill rate vote carried unanimously.

What remains

Board members closed the continuation hearing and noted the Board of Finance will reconvene at its next scheduled meeting for any remaining budget business. Finance staff said the municipality’s calculations and the adopted figures will be used to finalize tax billing and related notices.

Ending

The board adjourned after approving the education appropriation, the mill rate, and the remaining budget line items on the agenda. Finance staff and the mayor thanked board members for their work during the budget process.