Weathersfield Select Board Meeting: Revised FY27 Budget and Level-Funded Tax Rate Approved - June 7, 2026
Weathersfield Select Board Meeting: Revised FY27 Budget and Level-Funded Tax Rate Approved - June 7, 2026
Town Manager Brandon presented a revised FY27 general fund budget at the special select board meeting, ultimately leading to approval of a level-funded budget with zero tax increase after extensive public discussion on land use staffing and budget priorities.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Darlene Johnson (taxpayer/budget committee member) apologized for a prior comment about residents adjusting home budgets and criticized statements made in public. She also mentioned a Home Depot manager willing to donate flags.
- Nicole Gagnon suggested that select board members who favor the budget could donate their $500 stipends to the community.
- Mr. Johnson (taxpayer) questioned the justification for the land use administrator budget increase from $68,215 in FY25 to $150,665 in FY27, noting the town’s low permit volume (51 zoning permits issued in 2026) and claimed that similar towns contract services at ~$100/hour. He requested a detailed explanation.
- Dave Fuller (resident) argued the land use office’s workload ebbs and flows, urged reliance on volunteer boards, and criticized the 28-page permit application. He recommended seeking alternative revenue sources (fees, grants) to lower property taxes.
- Lisa Slay (budget committee member) clarified that her recommendation to remove the $2,500 flag expense was not paired with fundraising; she noted flags were just purchased and new funds won’t be needed until FY28. She expressed hope the select board would reinstate flags in the future.
- Sofia (budget committee member/resident) expressed frustration that budget discussions were rehashed at the last minute and called for earlier collaborative work.
- Dr. Murray (resident/budget committee member) proposed a level-funded budget (no tax increase), arguing that after two failed votes (54.2% voted no), a zero-increase budget would likely pass and avoid further costs. He provided a draft article using the current FY26 expenditure level of $1,585,958.
- Several speakers (Olivia, Ray, Police Chief) defended the full-time land use administrator, citing past enforcement and workload issues, and noted Ryan Bombart often works beyond posted office hours.
Discussion Items
- FY27 General Fund Budget Revision: Town Manager Brandon presented a revised budget totaling a 1.67% estimated tax increase (about $13 per $100,000 property value or $2.38/month on average), achieved by $49,363 in reductions including town manager salary/benefit cuts, removal of $2,500 for flags, reduced schoolhouse renovation, and elimination of a principal clerk position. He walked through line items in administration, shared services, finance, town clerk, listers, land use, fire, police, and library budgets.
- Land Use Administrator Staffing and Costs: A lengthy debate occurred over the land use budget. Ryan Bombart (land use administrator) detailed his duties: rebuilding administrative systems, managing permits, attending DRB hearings, writing decisions, handling violations, and customer service. He noted a current high workload (eight hearings in process) and stated that once the town plan is adopted and bylaws revised, hours could potentially be reduced in 1-2 years. Olivia (former assistant) and police/fire chiefs supported the full-time position, citing past enforcement failures and public safety risks.
- Flag Expense: The $2,500 flag line item was removed per budget committee recommendation, but Lisa Slay opposed future fundraising. The select board agreed to discuss a fundraising and cash management policy at the next meeting.
- Special Town Meeting Location: The board debated holding the next special town meeting at the school or town hall; consensus chose town hall due to convenience (graduation chairs already set up).
Key Outcomes
- Motion to adopt a level-funded FY27 general fund budget (zero tax increase) passed 4-1 (one opposed). The tax need was set at $1,585,958, identical to the FY26 level. Town Manager Brandon confirmed he can implement the budget without cutting services or using reserves, noting that previously passed special articles (fire truck, highway truck replacements) will reduce future debt.
- Special town meeting location set to town hall instead of the school.
- The board agreed to start FY28 budget discussions in August/September rather than immediately.
- Meeting adjourned after signing revised warning documents.
Meeting Transcript
I hope they were paying. And I said that we have to find the stance on my head. So it's like those then. Yeah, it's not a lot of things. 630. 630 order. Can we do it this time? I plenty of the United States of America. And the two of the Republic for which we can't nation. Thank you. Welcome. Thank you. Agenda review. Select board have any issues with uh the agenda with the rates? Meeting. Uh this figure 2700 wise general budget fund budget. Brandon. Yep. Take it away. All right. Um I've revised the FY27 general fund budget. Any preparation for our next special town meeting? And vote in July. In total, we reduced the general fund by $49,363. The total tax increase in the general fund between FY26 and FY27 is an estimate 1.67%. Um the reason why it's an estimated is because our grand list isn't you know, this is based on the F126 brand list. Typically our grand list rises a little bit. Um, and if that does happen, it would come in a little bit less, probably closer to 1.41.5%. This equates to $13 annually for $100,000 of property value. Or $28.62 annually on the average property value of $213,577.98. Um so on the average property value, the total monthly taxing implication with the general fund is two dollars and thirty-eight cents per month. Um per 100,000 is a little over a dollar increase per month. To get there, we made various reductions. Um the select board and I worked collaboratively to reduce the town manager's salary by 9,165. The town manager town manager's benefits were reduced by $5,250. Um that five thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. I seen the question online what what benefit was that um that was the student loan um repayment statement that the town manager had uh in prior years. So that was removed. Uh the a reduction of town manager retirement by 468 dollars. A reduction all of these occurring like when you re when you reduce a salary also reduces, so there's a reduction there of 701 dollars. Um the town has to contribute 0.33 percent on all employees uh wages. Um so that was reduced by $30. Um compensation reduced by $49, workers' compensation, town manager workers' compensation reduced by $170. We talked about at the budget committee meeting um last night about flags and whether we should remove that from the budget and look at fundraising efforts for flags next year. So I did I did take that recommendation and I removed the flag that you fly expenses of 2500. I reduced the 1879 schoolhouse renovations by 1,250. We removed the Friends of the Meeting House allocation of 1,000 that failed that town meeting, and that will that accidentally was included in the last revised budget, but that has been removed in the screenized budget. Shared services expenses were reduced by $2,050, finance traveling conferences by $250, town clerk reduced by $2,900, listed budget reduction to $15,000. Land use expenses reduced by $6,727. That was also in the last revision.
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