Preston Board of Finance approves FY2027 spending plan, adds pro‑rated second Resident State Trooper

The Preston Board of Finance voted April 23 to approve the town’s proposed FY2027 budgets, endorsing a $22,872,170 total spending plan and recommending a Board of Education budget of $15,540,740.

The board’s action includes a motion to reduce overtime and add pro‑rated funding for a second Resident State Trooper, a net operating increase of approximately $18,000. That change shifted the projected mill rate from about 26.78 to roughly 26.80 (an estimated 0.02‑mill increase). The Board approved the town budget of $6,053,624 and the revenue schedules in unanimous votes; the trooper funding motion passed 5–2.

Finance staff presented core budget figures during the public hearing: the total proposed budget of $22,872,170 (an overall increase near 4%), an estimated tax impact of roughly 7% for the average assessed home, and primary cost drivers including rising healthcare/employee benefit costs and contractual salary increases in the school district. Officials said the grand list rose about 1.7% and no fund balance would be used this year. The presentation listed Board of Education reductions of $275,000 and Board of Finance reductions of $113,000.

The board recorded a unanimous recommendation on the Board of Education budget (motion by Chairman Andrew Sawyer, second by Thomas Wright). Later, on a motion by Robert Castronova, seconded by Max Zachem, members voted 5–2 to reduce the overtime line by roughly $50,000 and add pro‑rated funding (about $68,000 for a half year) for a second Resident State Trooper, yielding the $18,000 net increase.

Chairman Andrew Sawyer addressed concerns about prior budget oversight raised during the public hearing, saying that review found “no funds were missing and that all expenditures had been accounted for.” Board discussion also noted capital projects funded by grants and long‑term savings from those strategies.

The board approved local revenues of $727,620 (local fees, prior‑year property tax, tax interest and lien fees, investment income) and intergovernmental revenues of $4,498,392. Officials reiterated that, even if funding for a second trooper is approved, assignment is coordinated by the Connecticut State Police and the officer may not be in place immediately, making a pro‑rated approach more practical.

Next steps: the FY2027 budget figures will take effect July 1 consistent with the town’s fiscal calendar; additional procedural steps such as any town meeting or referendum required by town charter or state law will follow the board’s action.