Enfield’s lack of transparency in Charter Revision meetings: a serious concern

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  Town Council, YouTube capture I’ve worked as a news reporter for 45 years, as a local news reporter but a longer period as a tech policy reporter based in Washington. I believe very strongly in government transparency. I’m trying to fill a few gaps in our local news coverage and analysis of issues, and it’s more of a hobby, a way of contributing to the town. This is now home. In the spirit of contributing to the town, here’s something that is making me angry. Enfield has generally done a good job of making some meetings accessible on YouTube. I applaud the town for these broadcasts and for making available meeting agendas that include the supporting documentation. However, these same standards are not being applied to the Charter Revision Commission (CRC). The commission is not broadcasting the meetings, and they are not making supporting documentation readily available. The public deserves video The CRC's work is important. The commission may recommend Charter changes impacting...

Enfield Town Council to vote on budget without tax increase


Enfield Town Hall, May 19, 2024

The Town Council is scheduled to adopt a budget tonight without a tax increase. The proposed mill rate will remain at 30.56, the same as this year. Despite this, the meeting is expected to be contentious. The Board of Education members will face off with the council in a final appeal, warning of layoffs, increased class sizes, and other problems if additional funding is not provided. The budget vote is expected to split along party lines, with Republicans supporting no change and Democrats seeking an increase. The budget proposal defers capital improvements, including repairs and new equipment purchases for schools, reducing spending by about $1.5 million. The largest offset are new police vehicles at $750,000.* However, this merely postpones costs into the future and is not something to take credit for. This budget will keep Enfield's per-pupil spending on the low end for the state. Enfield ranks low in Net Current Expenditure Per Pupil (NCEP) spending, being the 12th lowest out of 172 state school districts and the 3rd lowest in 24 selected Hartford County towns and cities, according to state data. The NCEP measures how much a school district spends on ongoing operational costs directly related to educating students, including teacher salaries, textbooks, and utilities, but excludes school construction, land purchases, debt payments, and adult education. Once the Town Council adopts the budget, the School Board will need to adapt their spending accordingly. They anticipate layoffs, larger class sizes, and some program reductions. There's little to celebrate here. While there may not be a tax increase, there will be a noticeable decline in services, particularly in schools. Looking ahead to 2026, the council will likely face similar pressures. Enfield's biggest challenge is the increasing tax burden on residential properties due to weaknesses in our commercial tax base. Any tax growth benefits from the Enfield Square redevelopment are still years away.

Proposed capital improvement spending

Proposed budget resolution

*The initial version of this post identified the EMS generator as the most expensive item. That was corrected above.

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