After line-by-line deliberations, the Board of Finance reduced the Town Government’s budget proposal of $2,013,351, decreasing the initial 8.8% increase, to $1,895,445, or 2.4%. At a May 15 budget workshop session, members of the Board of Finance, in conjunction with First Selectman Allan Cahill, reviewed the various department requests, which include all town offices, organizations, facilities and services, in search of savings and surpluses. Reductions were based on a review of actual expenses in previous years, and unspent funds in the current year’s budget which could be used to purchase necessary items this year instead of next.

Increases to the FY2024-25 budget include an additional $13,000 in road maintenance and repair due to storm damage this year, and a $10,109 increase to the Conservation Commission’s request, which included maintenance and improvement to the newly purchased Hammond Hill Preserve, although their initial request of $40,875 was reduced to $17,375 by the finance board.

There were increases to the line item for the Fire Department of $12,800, and the KB Ambulance Service for $36,400. These expenses were lessened for the last few years by applying the American Recovery Program Act funds toward them. The remaining money in that account, $344,404. has been applied to the purchase of a new fire truck, approved by voters at a March 12, 2024 referendum.

For the past several years, the budget has maintained level spending, or a slight increase, or even a reduction. This is not the case this year. In addition to inevitable municipal expenses, the total increase to Education, which includes Hampton’s assessment for Regional District #11 and Hampton Elementary School, was originally a total increase of $269,046. The State’s formula for the Educational Cost Sharing Grant, frozen due to the Covid pandemic, will decrease revenue for the Town by approximately $83,500 per year starting in 2026, eventually resulting in a projected decrease of $584,801 over the next seven years. This amount does not include enrollment changes. Additionally, pending litigation with Huntington National Bank involving the Solar Park has resulted in approximately $1.6 million in unpaid taxes to date. Though a court case has been scheduled for this month, it has been subjected to repeated postponements and continuances, nor can the Town depend on a favorable decision.
In response to the budget proposal presented by the Board of Education, which represented a 3.52% increase, school officials were asked to provide several items, including contracts and matrices for the certified and non-certified staff, the schedules for special classes and for the school’s paraprofessionals, current legal expenses, and a budget version that reflects a 3% raise for non-certified staff. As of press time, only the matrices were received. The Board of Finance also asked the Board of Education to review actual expenses for anticipated surplus funds which could be used toward next year’s budget purchases. Subsequently, the Board of Education met and reduced the budget by $36,014, a 1.84 % increase over last year.

The Board of Finance will not finalize the budget until after the Public Hearing, scheduled for June 5 at 7PM at the Town Hall, to consider citizen input. The Annual Town Meeting will be scheduled after that by the Board of Selectmen to present the Town Government and Hampton Elementary School budgets, followed by a referendum vote.

Kathy Donahue, Chairman, Board of Finance