February 6 Meeting Highlights
New Canaan’s Board of Finance meeting on February 6 played out as a study in fiscal discipline, operational constraints, and the ever-present challenge of delivering services while keeping taxpayers at ease. The budget review for fiscal year 2026 focused on three primary objectives set by Chairman Todd Lavieri: lowering the tax burden, reducing bonded capital expenses, and controlling taxpayer-supported capital outlays.
Lavieri set the tone early: “The budget that has been sent to us has an increase of 6.9%. This needs to come down.” His target—cutting 200 basis points, roughly $3 million—hung over the discussion as department heads walked through their budgets, justifying expenditures while nodding to a prevailing atmosphere of cost-cutting.
The town’s total general fund expenditures are projected at $183.1 million, a 4.67% increase over the prior year. Town operations will rise by 3.76%, while the Board of Education’s budget is set to climb by 4.57%. Capital expenses, always a flashpoint, have surged: tax-funded capital expenditures will leap 351.47%, from $384,000 to $1.73 million. That figure drew scrutiny. “We need to reduce this,” Lavieri said, warning that maintaining a sustainable capital funding trajectory requires years of restraint.
The budget review began with Health and Human Services. Health Department Director Jenn Eielson delivered a rare piece of good news: her department’s budget request reflected a 0.04% decrease. “Revenues are up, expenses are down. We like that,” said Board member Bob Hamill. The town’s OpenGov system, implemented in 2023, has streamlined operations, allowing for greater efficiency and cost savings. Eielson noted that online payment processing has eliminated the need for additional clerical support, and the department has been able to reallocate resources accordingly.
Human Services Director Marcy Rand painted a different picture. Demand for services is climbing sharply, with more residents requiring food pantry assistance, rental aid, and energy assistance. The number of senior clients alone jumped from 110 last year to 231 this year. Yet, her department’s budget request is down 8.48%. “We just got creative,” Rand said, citing grant reallocations and partnerships that have helped offset costs.
The library budget review unfolded as a case study in unintended consequences. Last year, the Town Council cut the library’s requested increase by more than half, forcing the institution to pull from restricted reserves to maintain its programming. This year’s proposed budget includes a one-time “reset,” an 8% increase meant to recover lost ground and support the library’s expanding footprint.
New Canaan Library CEO Ellen Crovatto outlined the pressures. Daily foot traffic has surged from 1,200 pre-pandemic visitors to nearly 1,800 today. Meeting room turnover occurs at an unprecedented rate, with spaces flipping as many as seven times a day. The library now ranks as the highest-trafficked library per capita in Connecticut.
With those demands, Crovatto and Library Director Cheryl Capitani made the case for a full-time custodian and a part-time AV specialist to handle the increasing wear and tear on the building and technology infrastructure. They also proposed modest increases in programming and digital collections, which have struggled to keep up with demand.
Digital materials pose a unique challenge. Libraries must pay five to six times the retail price for e-books, and licenses expire after two years. The proposed budget includes an $18,000 increase for digital content, an investment that would cut waitlists by half.
Board of Finance members acknowledged the need but pressed on sustainability. “If we approve this increase, can you commit that this is a one-time reset?” asked Board member Michael Chen. Capitani assured the board that the library’s future requests would remain within town budgetary guidance.
Endowment questions also surfaced. The library’s reserves have been depleted, in part due to the stabilization and relocation of the 1913 Legacy Building—an unfunded mandate from the town. What to do with that structure remains an open question. “Renovation estimates are in the seven-figure range,” Crovatto said, adding that an advisory committee is being formed to evaluate its future use.
Throughout the meeting, a paradox emerged: residents want more services, but the town’s fiscal philosophy prioritizes restraint. The town’s debt service remains flat at $18.1 million, and its unassigned general fund balance sits at $20 million—healthy figures that reflect past fiscal conservatism. The challenge, as Lavieri framed it, is maintaining that discipline while delivering what residents expect.
“Everything costs more,” Lavieri said. “We need to find efficiencies, and we will.”
February 11 Meeting Highlights
The Board of Education’s budget presentation to the Board of Finance unfolded with a familiar mix of precision and pressure. The numbers were laid out, the trends were examined, and, as always, the central tension emerged: how to meet the needs of New Canaan’s schools while keeping spending in check.
Superintendent Dr. Bryan Luizzi and Board of Education Chair Katrina Parkhill delivered the request—$114.3 million for the fiscal year, a 4.67% increase over last year. That figure, and the forces driving it, dominated the discussion.
At the core of the budget increase: salaries. Total compensation is projected to rise by $3.31 million, accounting for 3.03% of the total 4.67% increase. Certified teachers—including administrators—make up the bulk, with a $2.77 million increase. Teacher salaries alone are up by $2.675 million, driven by general wage increases, step adjustments, and two new positions: an interventionist and a classroom coach.
Despite this, the district’s headcount remains flat. “We know the board loves the page in the book that explains exactly why the budget changed,” Luizzi said.
Turnover savings from retirements—a key offsetting factor—are projected at $245,000, significantly lower than last year’s $450,000. The average salary difference between a retiring veteran teacher and a new hire is about $32,000 to $36,000.
Benefits, the second-largest driver, make up 83% of the total increase. Healthcare claims are up 4.5%, stop-loss insurance has jumped 15%, and payroll taxes linked to salary hikes will add another $94,000.
Contracted services will rise by $159,000, mostly due to increased outsourcing in areas like reproduction services and consulting. Property services are set to increase by $252,000, including $148,000 in energy costs, $26,000 in building repairs, and $56,000 for software support and licensing.
Transportation costs—always a significant line item—are climbing by $150,000. When pressed on the cause, officials pointed to fuel expenses and adjustments in reimbursement for non-route miles.
The Board of Finance signaled early that the budget, as presented, was too high. “We had sort of guided toward something with a three in front of it,” one member said. “We’re at 4.67%. Can we find a way to get $500,000 to $700,000 off this number?”
Luizzi and his team agreed to continue monitoring variable expenses, including retirements and insurance costs, but made no immediate commitments. “We’ll keep a close eye on anything that might shift,” Luizzi said.
The conversation turned to federal funding, particularly the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grant, which helps cover special education costs. “The grant covers about 7% of costs nationwide,” Luizzi explained. “When IDEA was passed, there was a 40% federal funding commitment. That’s never happened.”
With rising outplacement tuition costs and a constrained reimbursement model, special education remains a financial wildcard. “Providers set their own rates, but we’re constrained by regulations,” one official noted, suggesting legislative intervention might be needed at the state level.
The capital budget presentation began with a shift in strategy. This year, the district moved some maintenance expenses—like painting—into a single district-wide fund instead of allocating them to individual schools. The goal: flexibility. The reaction: skepticism.
“We’re going to be really, really tough on capital this year,” the Board of Finance warned. “We need to know exactly where the money is going.”
Some projects were specific, like masonry repair at Saxe Middle School and rubberized playground surfacing at East School. Others, like HVAC piping replacements, drew pushback. “You’re asking for $1.1 million, but where is this problem occurring?” one board member asked.
The district’s technology investments will transition from a third-party lease model to bonded capital funding, with an $800,000 annual allocation. A new strategy for procuring equipment could allow New Canaan to qualify for up to 40% federal rebates.
Fleet management continued as usual, with three vehicle replacements planned, maintaining an eight-year rotation cycle. One experiment—trying to repurpose an old fleet vehicle for maintenance use—had failed, leading to an additional request for a dedicated maintenance vehicle.
The single largest capital request: a $1.3 million public address (PA) system upgrade at the high school. But this wasn’t just any PA system.
New Canaan would be the first school in the state to install the Audio Enhancement System, a multi-use classroom sound system that amplifies teachers’ voices through ceiling-mounted speakers, integrates with emergency response protocols, and replaces traditional PA speakers. “Every student benefits,” Luizzi argued, pointing to schools in Illinois and elsewhere that had adopted the model.
“Functionally, it’s a game-changer,” he added. “And there’s no ongoing service contract.”
Then came the scoreboard debate. Dunning Stadium’s LED scoreboard is 14 years old, no longer supported by the manufacturer, and one breakdown away from being unusable. The district asked for $200,000 to replace it.
Board members weren’t convinced. “If it’s urgent, why is it in next year’s budget instead of a special appropriation?” one asked. “And has the New Canaan Athletic Foundation been approached for funding?”
School officials agreed to explore alternative funding options before the next budget meeting.
As the meeting wrapped, the Board of Finance reinforced its stance: capital spending needed to be tighter, and operating costs should be scrutinized for potential savings.
“We need to be sure every dollar is justified,” Chairman Todd Lavieri said. “We support the schools, we support the programs, but we also support the taxpayers.”
February 13 Meeting Highlights
The New Canaan Board of Finance continued its budget deliberations, focusing on funding requests for infrastructure, parks, and public facilities.
Director of Public Works Tiger Mann presented the capital requests for DPW, outlining major priorities, including replacing aging equipment; road maintenance funding; infrastructure improvements at the Transfer Station and other municipal facilities.
Mann explained that $1.165 million was being requested, up from the previous allocation of $565,000, due primarily to the need for a combination vacuum jet truck ($640,000) and a cold storage building ($690,000) that had been deferred for over a decade.
Committee members questioned the cost of the vacuum truck and whether the town could consider renting or sharing with neighboring towns.
Mann responded, “Wilton has one, Darien has one, and Ridgefield is waiting on delivery of the same unit. We had one until two years ago, and we should have replaced it at the time. We can’t meet our permit obligations with our current equipment.”
When asked about renting, Mann explained, “The daily rental rate is $3,600, and the state’s Department of Administrative Services got zero bids in our district when trying to secure one. So, rental is both cost-prohibitive and unreliable.”
After further discussion, the board agreed to keep the request in the budget for final review in June.
John Howe, Director of Parks & Recreation, and Ryan Restivo, Superintendent of Parks, presented their department’s capital budget requests.
The town committee reviewed several infrastructure funding requests, focusing on safety and accessibility projects while deferring discussions on long-term capital improvements.
A request for $125,000 to replace a 10-foot out-front rotary mower and $35,000 to replace the safety railing at the Transfer Station’s commercial area were among the proposed expenditures. The committee also considered funding for ADA-compliant improvements at Waveny Park, including restroom renovations and accessibility upgrades.
Public Works Director Howe emphasized the importance of the ADA compliance projects, explaining that the bathroom upgrades at the Nature Center and Powerhouse Theater were critical to ensuring accessibility. “This isn’t just about compliance; it’s about providing equitable access,” he said.
The most extensive discussion of the evening focused on the Powerhouse Theater renovations. Representatives from the theater outlined requests for additional funding to complete Phase One of the project and detailed considerations for Phase Two, which involves replacing the annex.
The Powerhouse Theater representative reported that $850,000 had been raised toward the $1.65 million Phase One goal. An additional $265,000 is needed to close the funding gap and secure a firm bid by July 1. Committee members pressed for clarification on the financial breakdown and prior contributions from the town.
The representative explained that Phase One includes lobby renovations, new ADA-compliant restrooms, and an office in the potting shed. Of the total $1.65 million budget, $725,000 is currently in the bank, and $100,000 has already been spent on architectural and engineering fees. The $265,000 request would allow the project to proceed.
Phase Two, which involves replacing the annex, is estimated at $1 million. A state grant of $500,000 has been secured, but an additional $400,000 in private fundraising is needed to complete the project. Some committee members expressed frustration with shifting cost estimates, questioning whether the total project cost was $2.6 million, $2.8 million, or $3 million. The representative clarified that additional expenses for exterior bathrooms and renovations to the potting shed increased the overall total.
The discussion then turned to the challenges posed by ADA compliance. The exterior bathrooms are physically connected to the annex, but the annex floor is currently four inches too high to meet accessibility standards. Mann, speaking on behalf of the project, explained that building the bathrooms now would require modifications to the annex floor. If the annex is later replaced, those modifications would have to be redone, increasing costs.
A committee member asked whether it would make more sense to prioritize funding for the annex before addressing the bathrooms. Mann responded that this would be counterintuitive, as accessibility was the primary driver of the project. The interior bathrooms were prioritized first, and lobby renovations needed to be completed before further work could begin.
Committee members acknowledged that securing full funding for the annex replacement remained a challenge but agreed on the need to complete Phase One. One member noted that approving the $265,000 request would allow the first phase to move forward while discussions on Phase Two continued. The annex replacement was not included in the current budget, and the committee was not prepared to allocate additional funding at this time.
The Powerhouse Theater representative reiterated that private fundraising efforts for Phase Two were ongoing. The project had initially sought $500,000 from the state but received only $100,000, placing additional pressure on private donors to bridge the funding gap.
Committee members agreed on several key takeaways. The $265,000 request for Phase One was considered critical and likely to be approved. Funding for the annex remained uncertain and would require additional private donations. The town would need to assess the financial impact of modifying the annex floor twice if Phase Two was delayed.
The committee chair concluded the discussion by acknowledging the complexity of the funding breakdown and reaffirming support for the Powerhouse Theater project. “This discussion helps clarify the numbers and priorities. We all support the Powerhouse Theater project, but we have to be mindful of what we can commit to tonight. The $265,000 request is reasonable and allows the first phase to be completed while fundraising for the annex continues.”
The committee advanced the $265,000 request for final review in June.
The budget review process will continue through March, with final adjustments before the Board of Finance votes on a proposal to send to the Town Council.
