To the Editor,
On Tuesday May 6th, the voters of Monroe will have their chance to vote on the proposed Town budget for 2025-2026. I’m suggesting and requesting that they approve the budget with a very strong yes vote.
I believe that this budget deserves a yes vote because I believe it is a balanced budget that considers both the real needs of the town and the impact to the citizens. Having said that, I understand that with the recent revaluation of our property values many (most) people will see significant increase in their taxes. This is something that was considered at every step of the budget creation process.
The budget that has been put forward has gone through the Town Charter required process in which the top 25 elected officials have taken part in its crafting. All these people, including me, were elected by the voters and entrusted to act in the best interest of the town, which I believe they have done.
The nine member Board of Education reviewed in detail the superintendent’s proposed budget and ultimately passed it unanimously. The nine members of the Town Council reviewed the municipal portion of the budget, including directly questioning all the various department heads. The Council then passed it unanimously and sent it to the Board of Finance (BoF), on which I serve.
Of the three elected bodies, the BoF is the only one required to look at all the town expenses together and, just as critical, the sources of revenue, both from property taxes and from non-tax sources.
Even though most of the BoF had attended the Town Council’s budget workshop with town department heads, we further questioned a number of them plus we heard directly from the superintendent of schools.
The BoF also held a charter required public hearing which, as I said at the time, had the largest participation in at least 15 years. In addition, we received more direct e-mails than I have seen in my five years on the Board combined.
The BoF had multiple workshops with some very long hours to go over every detail. We had spirited discussions and debate. All of us grappled with how to include items we thought were the most critical while considering the impact to the citizens.
In the end, the five present members of the six member board voted unanimously to send the budget to the voters.
I believe that the careful work of the boards and of the first selectman means that the people of Monroe should understand that this proposal represents a necessary, though somewhat painful budget.
The voters also need to understand that the BoF took some significant steps both to include significant items and to help shield the public from even greater tax impacts.
After much discussion and debate the BoF agreed to restore a portion of the Board of Education’s funding request. It was not as much as I proposed, but more than others wanted. In other words, we compromised for the good of everyone.
In addition, the BoF accepted the first selectman’s proposal to take $4 million from the General Fund (a.k.a. rainy-day fund) plus they increased that amount, all done to reduce the tax impact to citizens. This is a level that has never been done before in Monroe. Speaking only for myself, I would never have considered this if not for the real impacts of this revaluation year.
As I said at the start of this letter, this is a budget that considered all the issues. I think it is a necessary budget. Therefore, again, I ask that you vote YES on Tuesday.
I am a member of the Board of Finance, but the above thoughts are mine alone and I am not speaking for the board.
Steve Kirsch
Member, Monroe Board of Finance
vote no make cuts
And how much did YOUR property tax go up Steve?
With the re-evaluation, everyone’s taxes are going up. They are hiding it behind the mil rate going down, but the bottom line is that your taxes are up.