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Monroe board tables setting of FY26'27 mill rate amid questions on new state education-aid language
Summary
After the May 5 referendum, the Board of Finance presented a resolution to set the FY26'27 mill rate at 29.888 mills but voted to table the decision until May 14 and asked the town attorney to review recently passed state legislation that board members said appears to direct supplemental education aid to boards of education and not to reduce the local mill rate.
The Town of Monroe Board of Finance on May 7 presented a resolution to set the fiscal year 2026'27 tax rate at 29.888 mills but tabled the action until May 14 while it seeks legal guidance on new state legislation that could affect how supplemental education grants are treated.
Board members said the General Assembly acted the night before and that substitute Senate Bill 1 (SB1) and related amendments contain language providing supplemental education aid to towns. Members disagreed on whether the aid could be used to lower the locally set mill rate or whether the statutes require that the aid be paid to school boards and not used to supplant local education funding. Several speakers noted the bill text states aid is to be expended for educational purposes only and authorized by the local or regional board of education.
Members repeatedly requested a written opinion from the town attorney clarifying whether the newly passed aid can be applied to reduce the mill rate or whether doing so would conflict with the state language. The board noted the bill was not yet signed by the governor at the time of the meeting and that legislative language could still change.
Given the uncertainty and the tight timeline (members noted May 15 as an administrative deadline connected to billing and applications), a motion to table the mill-rate resolution until May 14 at 6 p.m. passed on a roll-call vote. The board asked staff to forward the legislative language to the town attorney and, if possible, to consult with state legislative offices for interpretation.
Next step: the board will reconvene May 14 to revisit the mill-rate setting after receiving the town attorney's opinion and any clarifying guidance from state sources.
