CANTON BUDGET FAQ

So, what is happening?

On June 2, the second proposed Canton budget, totaling $53,784,729, failed at referendum by a vote of 1,049 YES to 1,303 NO. As a result, the Boards of Finance, Selectmen, and Education have passed a new, reduced budget that will go to a third referendum on June 23.

The failure of the second referendum was very disappointing. Although we understand that the economy is squeezing Canton residents these days, that’s also true of the town and the schools.

The second budget’s increase of 5.84%, although it sounded high relative to inflation, was needed to keep programs and personnel in place given the 20% increase in health insurance costs, high utility rates, and contractual obligations.

Nonetheless, the voters have spoken, and the elected boards have carried out the painful duty of making further cuts to their budgets. The new, third proposed Canton budget that will be heading to a vote on June 23 rd is $52,834,729. This represents an increase of only 3.97% over last year’s budget. The mill rate will actually decrease by 0.89%.

Although this budget will not do all we had hoped, we still strongly encourage Canton residents to vote YES on June 23 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Canton Community Center. We really can’t afford to have another budget fail.

How is the newest (third) budget different?

The new budget is $52,834,729, representing a 3.97% increase in spending and – critically – a decrease of 0.89% in the mill rate. For residents whose house’s value increased in the revaluation, you will still most likely see an increase in your tax bill relative to last year, even with the mill rate decrease. You can use the Town’s online Mill Rate Calculator to estimate your specific household impact.

Each of the three Boards made significant cuts to achieve this reduction:

• Board of Finance: $50,000

• Board of Selectmen Operating: $63,605

• BoS Capital Improvement: $436,395

• Board of Education: $400,000

• Total reduction: $950,000

What effect will this budget have on the town and schools?

Frankly, we believe the budget for this third referendum is too low. At a spending increase of 3.97%, the town will not be able to keep up with inflation (which recently ticked up to 4.2%), far less with other obligatory increases.

• The largest overall expense for both town and schools is personnel—salaries and benefits—and the 20% increase in health insurance will take up a big chunk of the overall increase. Contractual salary obligations for teachers, police, public works, and other employees are required under collective bargaining agreements, which in turn are affected by current inflationary trends.

• Special education costs continue to rise, driven by state and federal mandates, and even with the new state aid they continue to be underfunded by the state.

• In addition, rather than increasing spending on capital projects in order to maintain the town’s infrastructure and avoid catastrophic costs when roofs, boilers, or bridges fail, the new budget basically keeps capital spending flat relative to last year, and the town will again be “kicking the can down the road.”

• The Board of Finance will no longer be able to replenish the unassigned fund balance, which may affect the town’s bond rating (thus increasing borrowing costs).

  Nonetheless, all of these things would be far worse with additional cuts, so we strongly encourage residents to VOTE YES on June 23 at the Canton Community Center.

What specific cuts were made by the Boards of Selectmen and Education?

The Board of Selectmen made the following cuts to its operating budget (total $63,605):

• CAO’s office: $1,900

• Elections: $100

• IT department: $1,100

• Town Clerk: $600

• Contingency Fund: $15,000

• Fire: $3,500

• Library (publications): $5,000

• Parks & Recreation: $6,737

• Parks—Field Maintenance: $2,000

• Police: $11,250

• Building official: $100

• Town planner: $500

• Small capital projects: $13,318

• Community services – youth services bureau: $2,500

• The Board of Selectmen made the following cuts to the town’s capital budget ($436,395):

• Public Works road maintenance and construction: $40,000

• Public Works fleet replacement: $25,000

• Land Use matching grants: $2,000

• EMS ambulance replacement: $25,000

The Board of Selectmen made the following cuts to the town’s capital budget ($436,395):

• Public Works road maintenance and construction: $40,000

• Public Works fleet replacement: $25,000

• Land Use matching grants: $2,000

• EMS ambulance replacement: $25,000

• Fire apparatus replacement: $50,000

• Fire/EMS hose and ladder replacement: $5,000

• Land Use ADA: $7,000

• Police Department boiler: $50,000

• CHS/CMS turf and track: $48,395

• CHS/CMS fitness room: $1,000

• Board of Education schoolwide public address system: $80,000

• Board of Education emergency boiler replacement: $103,000

The Board of Education made the following cuts to its operating budget ($400,000):

• 1.0 Language Arts consultant, CBPS: $72,500

• 0.4 Health Education, CBPS: $22,000

• Summer Academy reduction: $10,000

• Technology staff reduction: $50,000

• Educational software: $20,000

• CHS athletics: $30,000

• Canton Academy: $13,000

• Reduction of administrative/central office staff: $25,000

• CIS Spanish 0.6 FTE: $32,000

• Admin/Teacher Prof. Devel. & Central Office Prof. Devel: $27,500

• Clubs & Activities: $11,000

• CHS/CMS delay asbestos removal: $20,000

• Tech. education hallway tiling: $20,000

• Football reduction: $5,000

• CPAT revenue: $10,000

• Pre-school revenue: $20,000

• District program development/curriculum writing: $12,000

What happens if the budget fails again at referendum?

The cycle would repeat itself with a further round of cuts and a further referendum until a budget passes.

At its Special Meeting on June 8, the Board of Finance set a temporary mill rate (leading to mill rate reduction of 0.89%), and the tax bills sent out on July 1 will be based on that figure. If the figure that ultimately passes is different, the town would calculate the difference and either issue refunds or collect additional amounts owing. All of that would, of course, involve administrative cost.

According to the Town’s bond consultant, multiple failed referenda may have a negative effect on our bond rating (indeed, that may already be the case, given the two no results), meaning it could cost us tax dollars in the long run as we pay higher interest on bonding.

I keep hearing complaints about the phase-in of the property revaluation and how that is increasing taxes for town residents. Is that true?

No. This is the third year of the four-year phase in of the 2024 revaluation. The phase-in was approved in 2024 by vote at a public town meeting and continues its intended purpose of reducing taxes for town residents, although how it affects each individual taxpayer depends on their specific property valuation. In all, about 73% of residents have experienced and will continue to experience reduced taxes because of the phase in relative to what they would be paying if the revaluation had been implemented all at once. Since the phase in is now ¾ complete, the average tax savings will be less than they were last year, but most of us will still see savings. Next year, the phase in will be complete, and it will have no effect (either up or down) on the taxes that any of us pay.

I feel as if these cuts went too far. How can I vote to restore more money to the budget? Should I vote no on Tuesday if I feel this way?

We agree these cuts are bad for the town—but we still recommend that you vote YES on this budget. Unfortunately, in our present system, there is no way to distinguish “no” votes from people who want to cut the budget more from “no” votes from people who want the budget to be higher. If the budget fails again, it is almost sure to lead to even more severe cuts rather than to restoring a higher budget amount. (It is true that a budget restoration happened once in Canton’s history, when a large, vocal group made clear they had voted no because the budget was too low. We do not believe that is likely to happen in the current environment.)

The bottom line:

A YES vote avoids the cost of further referenda, the cost of adjusting tax bills after a mill rate has been set, AND prevents further painful cuts to the schools, library, and more. A NO vote leads to significant administrative costs, as well as to deeper program and personnel cuts with real consequences for every Canton resident.

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 Budget Referendum is on Tuesday, June 23, 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 June 23!