Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves FY26-27 Norwalk operating budget and tax rates after debate over state aid
Summary
The Board of Estimate and Taxation approved the City of Norwalk FY26-27 operating budget and tax rates after staff incorporated nearly $1.96M in education aid and $1.4M in municipal aid from the state. One member, Anne Yang, recorded opposition, saying state funds should lower the mill rate rather than increase taxpayer burden.
The Board of Estimate and Taxation voted on May 7 to approve the City of Norwalk’s FY26-27 operating budget and tax rates after city staff presented a revised proposal that included new state funding.
Jared, presenting the revision, said the state adopted a budget that delivered roughly $1,960,000 in education‑related aid and about $1,400,000 in other municipal funding. To approach the Board of Education’s requested increase, the BET proposal raised the local BOE appropriation to 4.12% and, when combined with the new state aid, reaches a 4.9% total increase for education. "There was about 1.9, over almost $2,000,000 in education related funding and about 1,400,000 in other funding for the city," Jared said.
Board members pressed staff on where the money would land. Jared said the municipal aid provides flexibility and will reduce the budget drawdown from the general fund; moving that drawdown down, he said, helps preserve the city’s bond rating. "If we can get the drawdown on fund balance down, I know the mayor has made this a priority — it will help us maintain the AAA rating," Jared said.
Board member Anne Yang objected to using state money without lowering the mill rate. "We have gotten over $3,000,000 of additional funding, but yet we're gonna ask the taxpayers to put in an additional $290,000," Yang said. She argued that state aid intended for taxpayer relief should not be used to raise the local taxpayer burden.
Other board members asked whether the state funds will be recurring and whether they will be included in future budgets; staff said every indication is that the education aid will be recurring and will become part of the BOE’s base budget. Jared and the mayor emphasized that the education funds come from the state and will not count toward the minimum budget requirement calculation but are expected to recur.
After discussion, the chair called for a vote. The board approved the revised budget and tax rates; Anne Yang registered an opposed vote on the record.
Officials said the next administrative steps include printing mill‑rate letters for signatures and convening an additional short meeting if needed before month’s end to adopt a bond authorization to meet statutory deadlines.
