CANTON BUDGET FAQ

How much is the budget?

$55,089,729.

How much did the budget increase from last year?

There is an 8.41% increase in the overall budget, but the tax increase is much lower than that.

What is the tax increase under the proposed budget?

The currently proposed mill rate is 35.11, up from 33.50 last year, which would translate to a 4.81% tax increase.  That figure reflects cuts already made by the Board of Finance, which reduced the proposed budget by almost $900,000.  And that increase should come down further thanks to new state aid for towns that was just passed by the Connecticut legislature (see below).

How much will this cost me?

Everyone’s situation is different because it depends on the assessed value of your home.  But for the median Canton homeowner, the increase would be approximately $350 per year, or about $29 per month, before factoring in the new state aid.  You can use the Town’s online Mill Rate Calculator to estimate your specific situation, though the actual amount you owe should be less once state aid is factored in.

Wait, if the budget increase was 8.41%, why would the tax increase be 4.81% (or less)?

The tax increase is not the same as the budget increase because Canton’s Grand List grew by 6.80%, which means more taxable property value to spread costs across.

What does the new state aid package mean for Canton?

Great news. On May 2, the Legislature adopted a $28.1 billion state budget that includes $280 million in new aid for cities and towns — $180 million in ongoing school aid and $100 million in one-time aid for non-education programs. The Governor has indicated that municipalities that have already set their budgets can re-open them and use the extra state aid to lower taxes. Under the Town Charter, the Board of Finance can consider those funds when it sets the mill rate. Canton will receive $162,740 in supplemental educational aid and $29,695 in supplemental town aid, for a total of $192,435.

So even if I vote YES on the budget, the Town still gets the state aid?

Yes, that’s right. The budget vote and the state aid are separate. Voting YES approves the spending plan; the Board of Finance will then be able to reduce the mill rate to account for the new state money. In other words, a YES vote supports the services Canton needs, and the state aid on top of that can be used to lower the tax bill.

Is this budget increase reasonable?

It is, because most of the increase comes from things that are largely outside the town’s and school system’s control.  The inflation rate in our region for the past twelve months has been 3.6%, which puts substantial upward pressure on the budget, since the Town faces most of the same cost increases that all of us see every day in stores and at the gas station. Healthcare costs are up 20% this year, which is the single largest driver of the budget increase across both the town and schools. Contractual salary increases for teachers, police, public works, and other employees are required under collective bargaining agreements. Special education costs continue to rise, driven by state and federal mandates. Utility and energy costs remain elevated. On the school side, 3.79% of the Board of Education’s 5.35% increase is driven entirely by these fixed costs — salaries, benefits, transportation, and utilities. The remaining 1.56% supports everything else: instruction, materials, maintenance, athletics, and student support. This is not a growth budget. It is a stability budget designed to preserve the quality of services this community expects and deserves.

But didn’t the Board of Finance make cuts?

Yes. The Board of Finance reduced the requested budgets by a total of $892,593, bringing the overall increase down from 10.16% to 8.41%. It cut $692,593 from the Capital Improvement budget and $200,000 from the Board of Education budget. Those cuts will result in the reduction of two bus routes (affecting all schools) and $110,000 in staff reductions.

What about the increases? Where is the new money going?

Beyond the fixed-cost increases described above, the primary new investments are designed to make Canton fiscally stronger and better for its residents:

• Capital Improvement and Infrastructure: The budget includes $1.9 million for capital improvements — including $600,000 in pavement management, emergency boiler replacements at Canton Intermediate School, school door replacements for safety, and Canton’s first-ever Building Maintenance Fund to save for long-term repairs to town buildings. It also includes grant matching funds so Canton can apply for grants that require a local match — no longer leaving free money on the table. For years, Canton has deferred maintenance on its infrastructure. This budget begins to address that backlog responsibly.

• Fund Balance: The budget includes a $700,000 appropriation to rebuild Canton’s fund balance (reserves). The Town recently adopted a policy requiring a minimum reserve of 15% of budgeted expenditures, and the fund balance is currently at only 14.3%. Maintaining adequate reserves protects Canton’s AAA bond rating, which means lower borrowing costs for taxpayers on future projects.

• Community Services: The budget restores $18,000 to the Library, allowing many subscriptions — including audiobooks — to be restored. It does not cut senior programs or meals, and it includes a part-time Senior Center Coordinator position. It also continues Canton’s small annual contributions to our beloved Roaring Brook Nature Center and to Interval House, which serves Canton victims of domestic violence.

• Contingency Fund: The budget establishes a new contingency fund for unanticipated expenditures throughout the year, so the Town is not caught off-guard by emergencies.

OK, that sounds sensible, but isn’t there a lot of waste in this budget? I heard the schools spent over $9,000 to paint a door. Someone said she would paint the door for $500!

Unfortunately, people say things at public meetings and on social media that are untrue. The $9,720 was actually to paint 36 doors at Canton High School, meaning the schools are spending about $270 per door. Each door requires specialized prep, sanding, industrial enamel alkyd paint at $150 per gallon, and high-temperature curing. So the $500 estimate that was thrown around would actually cost almost double per door!

Misinformation aside, the Board of Education has taken real, proactive steps to control costs. It reduced 2.2 teaching positions based on enrollment trends. It implemented an early retirement incentive program that will save approximately $239,000. It expanded in-district special education programs — the Thrive and Bridges programs — which deliver approximately $2.95 million in annual cost avoidance by keeping students in Canton rather than placing them in expensive out-of-district programs. This budget adds no new staff. In fact, the Board of Education has taken on additional operational responsibilities from the town — including accounting, payroll, HR, and a facilities supervisor — to improve efficiency. Canton’s administrative staffing is among the leanest of any comparable K–12 district in Connecticut.

It is understandable that people are concerned about their tax dollars being spent wisely, but the reality is that all three Boards — Selectmen, Education, and Finance — looked at this budget closely, and this is a prudent, responsible budget, not a wasteful one.

Are our schools worth the cost?

Absolutely. Canton’s investment has supported an excellent school system. Canton High was named one of only seven Schools of Distinction in Connecticut by the State Department of Education and ranked the 23rd Best High School in Connecticut by U.S. News & World Report. Cherry Brook Primary was also recognized as a School of Distinction, scoring in the top 10% of schools statewide. On state science exams, 89.9% of juniors scored at or above proficiency — the number one score in the entire state.

Canton spends $23,946 per pupil, which is below the state average of $24,270 and ranks at just the 15th percentile in its peer group. In other words, Canton delivers outstanding results at a below-average cost. That doesn’t happen by accident. It reflects years of steady, responsible investment in our schools.

Strong schools are a major reason people choose to live in Canton, and they help protect property values and make Canton a great place to live, which benefits all of us.

What happens if the budget fails at referendum?

That would depend on the new budget set by the Board of Finance and the specific line items cut by the Boards of Education and Selectmen. While we don’t know for sure what will be cut, it is safe to assume that any meaningful cuts would be painful to the town and schools, given the prudence of the proposed budget and the cuts that have already been implemented.

As Board of Education Chair Lou Daniels said at the public budget hearing:

“Further reductions to this budget are not abstract; they carry real and lasting consequences. They will be seen and felt in our classrooms, in the opportunities available to our students, and in the quality of education we provide every day.”

The Board of Selectmen would face difficult choices such as rolling back police and public safety funding, cutting road maintenance, or reducing library, senior, and other services — many of which have already been cut in prior years.

I have other questions and concerns about the budget.

We want you to understand the issues involved and feel comfortable voting YES. If you have a question about the budget, you can write to Brian Miller, Board of Finance Chair, at cantonbofchair@gmail.com, or Zoe Peak, Finance Director, at zpeak@townofcantonct.org.  For questions about the education budget, you can also write to Lou Daniels, Board of Education Chair, at ldaniels@cantonschools.org.

I am convinced that it is important to vote yes. Where and how do I vote?

The Annual Town Budget Referendum is on Thursday, May 14, 2026, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Canton Community Center, 40 Dyer Ave., Canton, CT 06019. Absentee Ballots are available from the Town Clerk. Please make your voice heard — vote YES on May 14!