What We Learned at the March Board of Finance Meeting
- DTC Leadership
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
At the March 18th Board of Finance meeting, we received important updates on how reductions are being applied across the town and the Board of Education.
Town Budget Reductions by the Board of Finance
The town was reduced by approximately $1.37 million in operating expenses, including:
$355,292 – deferral of 4 new fire hires
$188,898 – pension adjustment (overfunding correction)
$291,999 – debt service adjustment
These changes total approximately $836,000 in operating adjustments (these aren't really cuts). These account for about 2/3 of the reductions to the town operating budget.
In addition, the town’s capital budget was reduced by $964,000, while still retaining approximately $1.2 million in capital funding.
Importantly, these are not service reductions residents will feel. They are largely timing adjustments, recalibrations, or deferred hiring.
Services like leaf pickup and bulk pickup remain unchanged
No current staff positions are being eliminated
Day-to-day operations for residents remain intact
New capital purchases remain in the budget
Board of Education Reductions by the Board of Finance
In contrast, the Board of Education was asked to absorb a $3.97 million reduction.
Approximately $1.4 million is tied to health insurance adjustments
The remaining reductions must come from the operating budget
These are not abstract numbers. These are decisions that will be felt directly in our schools.
Current projections include:
25 certified staff positions
8 non-certified staff positions
2 administrative positions
The Gifted and Talented program
The Middle School Sports program
The Middle School World Language Program
"Art on a cart" for Elementary Schools
Shifting administrative work back onto classroom teachers
And more...
These reductions will impact:
Class sizes
Student support services
Program availability
We also created a video sampling the comments from the meeting. Check it out here.
A Question of Balance
This is where the conversation becomes more difficult, but also incredibly important.
The town has made reductions that largely avoid direct impact to residents, while the Board of Education is being asked to make reductions that will be immediately visible in classrooms and student services.
At the same time, it is worth recognizing that over the past decade, the Board of Education has consistently:
Kept increases below inflation in the almost every year
Absorbed rising costs, particularly in special education and healthcare
Contributed to overall budget stability during years of grand list growth
Hired using Covid funds wisely - the BOE hired Special Education teachers and were able to keep more kids in their home schools, saving dollars AND providing a better experience for our kids. This means spending fewer dollars on outplacement while enhancing our services at home.
Why This Matters
This is not about choosing one side of the budget over another.
It is about ensuring that:
Reductions are applied equitably
Impacts are fully understood by those voting on these decisions
Decisions reflect the long-term priorities of the community
When reductions are invisible in one part of the budget but deeply felt in another, it is reasonable to ask whether the balance is right. Residents should go into these votes with their eyes wide open, understanding what their advocacy means.
Moving Forward
As a community, we should be asking:
Are we distributing reductions in a way that reflects our values?
Are we protecting the core services that define North Haven?
Are we making decisions based on long-term sustainability, not just short-term relief?
What are we willing to pay additional dollars for?
How much will each scenario cost me monthly? Check out this handy Mill Rate Calculator to understand the impact to your budget.
These are not easy questions, but they are necessary ones and we are here to help.
Final Thought
North Haven has worked hard to build strong schools and a strong community.
As we move through this budget process, the goal should not be to shift burden from one area to another but to make thoughtful, balanced decisions that reflect who we are and what we value.