Avon budget heads to May 13 referendum after town says state health plan saves $2 million

Avon officials on May 4 presented a recommended fiscal 2026–27 town budget totaling $122,281,503 and told residents the measure will be decided by referendum on May 13 at the Avon Senior Center.

The proposal — recommended by the Board of Finance and presented at the Annual Town Budget Meeting — reflects a shift of town and school employee coverage to Connecticut’s state health plan, which Town Council Chairman Dan Polhamus said will save the town about $2 million this year. "What this switch in medical insurance providers gets us is $2 million savings that we're recognizing this year by moving over," Polhamus said, adding the change reduces the proposed mill-rate increase from 5.43% to 3.41%.

Board of Finance Chairman Houston Putnam Lowry read the Motion to place the budget on the referendum, and urged turnout. "I urge you to come out and vote," Lowry said, noting the board recommended the budget and warning that a recent catastrophic health claim produced an administrative dispute that raised costs this year.

Why it matters: Avon leaders said the town receives limited state education aid, so local property tax revenue funds the majority of the budget. In the Board of Education proposal introduced by Chair Deb Chute and Superintendent Dr. Bridget Carnemolla (as introduced at the meeting), the district reported $77,983,180 funded and $1,249,500 not funded. Officials identified major cost drivers including health-insurance increases, specialized transportation and programming, and personnel; the district reported roughly $650,000 in staffing reductions this cycle and said the town deferred almost $4.5 million in general-fund capital requests.

Budget details and trade-offs: Officials said department heads submitted approximately $670,000 in additional requests that were not funded to keep the mill-rate increase lower. The town noted a variety of one-time and ongoing capital needs remain unmet. Superintendent Carnemolla described the health-insurance pressure as a principal driver of this year’s increases and said moving to the state plan materially reduced the town’s exposure.

Public reaction: During the public comment period, several residents expressed support for the schools and town services and urged a "Yes" vote. Chrissie Desopo said she would vote for the budget to sustain schools, the library and volunteer emergency services. "We happily pay our taxes to ensure all future children have the same excellent education," Desopo said.

Other residents raised fiscal questions. Board of Finance member Kathy Randall, who said she voted against the budget, pressed for revisiting the town’s investment and cash-management strategy and criticized certain facility expenditures, including what she described as about $80,000 to pave a parking lot at Fisher Drive, a $100,000 lost tenant revenue, and a $430,000 office build at the Senior Center. "I just don't think we're using our money very efficiently or wisely when we're spending this type of money on real estate," Randall said. Town Council member Erin Barthel replied that the proposed Senior Center office is intended for three staff members in Social Services and the Senior Center and said DPW has already patched sidewalks and will complete repairs.

Next step: The Annual Budget Meeting recessed and the budget will be decided by voter referendum on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the Avon Senior Center Community Room, 635 West Avon Road, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. No final vote on the budget was taken at the meeting; the Board of Finance’s motion was placed before voters for the referendum.

Provenance: The coverage draws from the Board of Finance and Town Council presentations, the Board of Education budget presentation, and the public-comment period, as presented during the Town of Avon Annual Budget Meeting (topic introduced SEG 004; discussion concluded SEG 041).