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East Hampton board outlines FY2027 budget changes, flags middle school paving for June 2 referendum
Summary
The Board of Finance reviewed FY2027 adjustments including new grants and expense reductions, projected a modest $300,000 positive variance for FY2026, and noted a $375,000 Middle School paving question will appear on the June 2 referendum; a board member criticized adding the project to the referendum instead of holding a town meeting.
The East Hampton Board of Finance on May 18 reviewed adjustments to the proposed FY2027 budget and confirmed the June 2 referendum will include a $375,000 question to pave the Middle School parking lot.
Jeffery Jylkka, director of finance, presented year-to-date FY2026 revenue and expenditure figures and said tax collection, higher investment income and increased permits and fees — along with several department vacancies — mean the town is conservatively projecting a $300,000 positive variance for the fiscal year. He told the board that if voters approve the Middle School paving question, the town’s unrestricted fund balance would be about 11.6 percent.
The overview highlighted several revenue updates: the adult-education line was adjusted from $19,227 to $22,163; the town is receiving a new Pequot/Mohegan grant of $104,793; and the state telephone-access payment-in-lieu amount rose from $35,000 to $57,000. On the expenditure side, several departments will purchase computer equipment this fiscal year rather than in FY2027 (Registrar $1,800; Senior Center $1,600; Planning & Zoning $1,250; Library $3,000). The budget also reflects a reduction equivalent to a half-time officer position ($50,500), a $5,000 reduction in Human Services direct assistance and a $20,000 cut to transfer-station brush removal.
Education spending was reduced by a total of $476,739, the presentation said, with two new state grants contributing $278,438 of that decrease, $98,301 attributable to computer equipment purchases occurring this year rather than next, and about $100,000 from renegotiated service contracts. The board was presented with overall figures showing a 3.23 percent expenditure increase and a mill rate of 28.67.
Board member Daniel Finn raised a procedural concern when the Middle School paving project was discussed: he said he understands the Town Council added the paving question to the referendum because of timing but called the choice a “poor decision” and said it should not become routine, arguing a dedicated town meeting is more appropriate for projects of this nature.
The board’s review set the stage for the June 2 referendum, which will include the town budget items and the Middle School paving question; no vote on the FY2027 budget was taken at the May 18 meeting.
