Council reviews FY2027 town budget; library seeks $1 million to finish legacy building

Town of New Canaan officials reviewed the proposed fiscal year 2027 town budget on March 24, hearing department-by-department detail from town finance staff and a separate presentation from the New Canaan Library, which requested an earmark of $1 million to complete restoration of its 1913 legacy building.

Ryan Stacy, the town finance presenter, walked council members through major budget drivers in the general government portion: a $28,000 charter-revision project account, a $25,000 increase in economic-development funds tied to upcoming American 250 events, reclassified software and service-contract spending to comply with the state uniform chart of accounts, and several personnel-related adjustments (step increases and union contract timing) that affect salary and benefits lines. Staff flagged legal-line increases that include $10,000 for charter-review expenses this year and a $30,000 allowance for expected zoning-regulation updates next year.

During the presentation council members questioned staffing levels and how reclassifications change reporting; staff said the reclassifications do not alter total town spending but move line items into categories the state requires for more consistent year-end reporting.

Library leadership used its portion of the hearing to make the case for capital support. Ellen Cordato (library representative) described operational improvements and fundraising success — noting the library’s strong fundraising record and recent investments in programming and digital collections — and requested a $1 million capital earmark to restore and adapt the legacy building for programming and meeting space. Cordato described the building as a flexible 1,200-square-foot space suitable for performances and meetings and estimated total project costs in a range she described as roughly $1.5 million to $2 million (including soft costs). Rob Low, chair of the library board, told the council the library has pledged funds and cash that, together with outstanding pledges, cover the $1.7 million outstanding on the facility loan and that the organization can make additional near-term payments to reduce that balance.

Council members probed alternatives and timing: some members recommended earmarking a smaller amount this year (for example, $500,000) and awaiting grant outcomes and competitive bids before committing the full million; others argued that an outright $1 million earmark would strengthen the library’s application for a state grant that library staff said they will pursue. Library board and staff said a town earmark is an important signal for the state grant process.

Clarifying details discussed at the meeting included a $225,000 capital request from the affordable-housing committee for a site-selection study, a $90,774 capital line for eight parking machines on Main Street, a $500,000 one-time operating transfer from the Board of Education internal service fund, and the $790,000 bond premium figure included in operating transfers. The library’s operating request was presented as a 3.5% increase for FY2027 (an increase of $105,500), driven largely by staff cost adjustments; presenters also disclosed an administrative allocation to the library of roughly $150,000 that affected their reported totals.

The council did not take a final capital vote on the legacy project at the March 24 meeting; discussion centered on timing, the state grant process, competitive bidding requirements, and whether to earmark the full $1 million now or phase funding across years.

Quotes and figures in this article are taken from presentations and exchanges during the March 24 council meeting.