East Haven Mayor Proposes 2.81-Mill Hike; GOP Cites $1.7M Gap

East Haven Mayor Proposes 2.81-Mill Tax Increase in 2026-2027 Budget

East Haven Mayor Joseph A. Carfora presented the proposed 2026-2027 fiscal year budget on March 23, 2026, during his State of the Town Address at East Haven High School. The proposal includes a 2.81-mill property tax increase, driven primarily by a $6.5 million rise in special education costs and $5.4 million in new contractual obligations, including labor contracts and employee benefits.

The Board of Finance subsequently voted 4-2 to advance the budget, with Republican members Beth Purcell and Ralph Vitale casting the dissenting votes. A Republican-backed motion to table the budget vote until the prior year's audit was complete also failed 4-2.

Republican Town Committee Challenges Budget Process

The East Haven Republican Town Committee issued a statement on March 25, 2026, questioning the budget's legitimacy. RTC Chair Eric Kropiwnicki said residents face "at least a 2.5 mill increase on their property taxes" while "underlying numbers remain unaudited."

The RTC raised two specific objections. First, the budget carries a reported $1.7 million revenue shortfall. Second, the state-required audit for the 2025-2026 fiscal year has not been completed, meaning the current budget is being advanced without verified prior-year financials. Kropiwnicki characterized the situation as "bad government and irresponsible actions."

Board of Finance Republicans Purcell and Vitale voted against both the motion to table and the budget itself, aligning with the RTC's position.

Administration Defends Transparency

Town spokesperson Ed Sabatino pushed back on the Republican criticism, defending the process as standard and transparent. Sabatino said the budget workshops are "designed to raise questions, review assumptions, and refine projections" in "an open and transparent setting." He added that Republican members' engagement during the workshops "does not reflect the urgency now being suggested publicly," implying the concerns were raised after the fact.

Carfora framed the spending increases as unavoidable fixed costs rather than government expansion. "This is not about expanding government. This is about sustaining it responsibly," Carfora said during the address. The mayor noted the town holds an A+ credit rating from S&P Global Ratings and has grown its fund balance from roughly $2.6 million when he took office to $9.3 million.

Budget Driven by Education and Labor Costs

The two largest drivers of the proposed increase are outside direct municipal discretion. Special education costs rose by $6.5 million, reflecting a statewide trend in mandated services. Contractual obligations — labor agreements, wage adjustments, and employee benefits — added another $5.4 million. Insurance and other fixed costs contributed additional pressure that Carfora described as outside local control.

For context, East Haven adopted a $105.5 million budget with a 33.44 mill rate for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, a 2.24-mill increase over the prior year. If the proposed 2.81-mill increase is adopted, the rate would rise to approximately 36.25 mills, representing one of the larger single-year increases in recent years.

Public Hearings and Budget Adoption Timeline

Several public workshops and hearings are scheduled through late April. Department budget reviews begin April 6 at the East Haven Community Center at 91 Taylor Avenue, with sessions covering departments including the Senior Center, Social Services, Animal Shelter, and Zoning. The Board of Education will present its budget on April 7, followed by a general BOE review on April 8.

Additional department workshops run through April 16. A Board of Education public hearing is set for April 20, followed by a general government public hearing on April 22. The final budget is scheduled for adoption on April 23.

Residents can review agendas and meeting details at the town's official website.

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