Charter Commission proposes 7% budget cap, a fix that won't solve the problem

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Charter Revision Commission. Budget limit debate on YouTube video starts at about 1:24:00 The Charter Revision Commission (CRC) approved a budget referendum, but only if officials proposed a budget that exceeded a 7% increase. If the budget fails in the referendum, it would automatically cap at 7%. By forcing a referendum on any budget exceeding 7%, the CRC proposal effectively imposes a budget cap. While this might sound like a way to control taxes, it overlooks a fundamental issue: property tax rates fluctuate due to factors outside the town’s control. The 2023 budget year proves this point: even with a 5.4% budget increase, homeowners saw their tax bills jump by 8-9%. The increase in taxes wasn't entirely due to spending—it happened because property taxes are affected by multiple conditions. A budget cap wouldn't have prevented these increases. Enfield's problem is revenue. Property taxes must make up the difference when other revenue sources decline—whether state aid, ...
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Enfield's charter revision: What will they do?



Enfield Conn., Middle Road

On Monday, the Town Council is expected to form a Charter Revision Commission. What little screaming nightmares will this group deliver?

A direct election of mayor

There are arguments for this. It might improve elections. We could see mayoral candidate debates, each sharing a vision for Enfield. Someone would now be responsible. Manchester made that change but limited the mayor's executive authority, retaining its town manager, which is probably best.

Budget referendums 

There's a little support on the council for this, but it would be a disaster for Enfield. Our community is too big and too complex to adopt a system that could lead to dramatic increases and decreases in spending, as polarized special interest groups battle it out. Referendums of this type usually get small turnouts. They also undermine the accountability of elected officials. Hopefully, the charter commission won't push this self-destruct button.

Charter in balance

The new Charter Revision Commission has the potential to reshape the structure of Enfield’s government. There may be a temptation for radical reform, or the Commission might opt to limit changes to administrative updates to the town’s charter. However, this could become politically dangerous if partisan interests begin to influence the revision process. Some of the appointed members are frequent speakers at Town Council meetings and have strong views on a range of issues. So, it's likely that the Commission will propose some major reforms, if a consensus emerges. Whatever this Commission proposes has to get Town Council and voter approval, likely during the November 2025 town election.
Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA

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