East Haven Council Approves $117.7 Million Budget
The East Haven Town Council unanimously approved a $117.7 million fiscal 2027 budget Thursday, setting a 35.78-mill property tax rate after reducing Mayor Joseph Carfora’s proposed increase. The final budget includes cuts to Board of Education funding, police salaries and employee health insurance costs.
The approved tax rate represents a 7% increase and rises 2.34 mills from the current year. One mill equals $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of assessed property value. The motor vehicle tax rate remains fixed at 32.46 mills.
Carfora’s original budget proposal called for a 2.81-mill increase. The town lowered that increase by cutting $677,488 in appropriations and identifying more than $200,000 in additional revenue.
Vice Chairman Louis Pacelli said before the vote, “It’s tough times, we’re doing the best that we can.” He added, “All towns are raising their taxes this year.”
Cuts Lower the Proposed Increase
The budget reductions include $250,000 less for the Board of Education than Carfora had proposed. Council Chairman Joseph Deko said the amount was “a number (the Board of Education) decided they could give back” because of pressure on local taxpayers.
The police salaries budget was reduced by $115,913. Deputy Police Chief Patrick Tracy said the cut reflects a six-month deferral for three new hires. That schedule gives the department time to hire three new officers and put them through the police academy before paying their salaries.
The town also removed $200,000 from its employee health insurance budget. Finance Director Barbara-Ann Brannigan said that reduction reflects a revised estimate of what the town expects to pay for medical benefits during the coming fiscal year.
Additional revenue identified during the budget process includes $109,500 from off-track betting and $190,032 from the use of solar power. The town also eliminated some departmental spending as it worked to reduce the proposed tax increase.