Board of Finance trims $3 million from New Canaan tax levy

Board of Finance · Meeting of March 5, 2026

New Canaan Board of Finance cuts FY27 tax levy by roughly $3 million. Chair Todd Leviieri told the board the schools superintendent identified $1.6 million in savings, including an $800,000 reduction in out-of-district placements and turnover costs, $300,000 from improved health claims data, and a one-time $500,000 transfer from the town's internal services fund. The board voted unanimously to set the amount to be raised by taxation at $169,676,990 and the total general fund operating budget at $185,229,451.

A resident identified only as Rich told the board "take back control," citing a superintendent salary of $388,000 and $938,000 combined pay for the district's three top administrators. Resident Eel Flynn questioned roughly $5.8 million budgeted for Waveny House repairs; Leviieri said the board had already cut a $4 million HVAC project from the plan. The board also approved a $19,765,484 five-year capital plan.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 1,021 words

Source: the Board of Finance meeting of March 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

NEW CANAAN — March 5, 2026 — The Board of Finance voted unanimously Thursday to set the amount to be raised by taxation for fiscal year 2027 at $169,676,990, a reduction of roughly $3 million from the budget recommended by the Board of Selectmen, after identifying $1.6 million in additional savings tied largely to the school district's health care costs.

Board of Finance Chair Todd Leviieri walked members through the final numbers before a series of unanimous votes that also set a $185,229,451 total general fund operating expenditure budget and a $19,765,484 five-year capital plan. The board heard sharply critical public comment on the Board of Education's staffing and health insurance practices, and questions about roughly $5.8 million in capital spending planned for Waveny House, before completing its recommendation to the Board of Selectmen.

The Full Story

The board opened by approving the minutes of its February 24 meeting and an amended version of its February 26 minutes, correcting an omitted word in a passage about Board of Education staffing levels. Leviieri then used prepared remarks to answer questions raised at a public hearing two nights earlier. He said the schools superintendent had identified $800,000 in savings as of that Tuesday hearing, drawn from reduced out-of-district special education placements, turnover savings and a shift in how food service health coverage is funded. Improved claims data added another $300,000 in savings, he said, and a projected $2.1 million surplus in the town's internal services fund, which covers health care costs, allowed for a one-time $500,000 transfer, bringing total identified savings to $1.6 million.

Board member Michael Chen asked Leviieri to clarify that the change amounted to an ongoing $1.1 million reduction plus a one-time $500,000 transfer, rather than a full $1.6 million reduction to the district's base budget going forward. Leviieri confirmed that reading. He also said the board would revisit the figures once March health claims data is available, ahead of a Town Council vote expected in late March or early April.

Two residents spoke during the public comment period. A speaker who identified himself only as Rich presented data comparing 2014 and current staffing: 712 employees for 4,229 students in 2014 versus a request for 803 employees this year against last year's enrollment of 3,953. He said the superintendent's salary had risen from $248,000 to $388,000 over that period, and that an assistant superintendent and deputy superintendent each now earn $275,000, for $938,000 combined among the three positions. He also alleged the district has not put its health insurance plan out to bid in 11 years and cited a claim that the town has paid $31 million more than Darien for health care over that period.

"Take back control. The board of ed is incapable or is beyond the ability to do so," Rich said. — Rich, New Canaan resident, public comment

A second speaker, who identified herself as Eel Flynn, a New Canaan parent and self-described chartered accountant and New York attorney, questioned roughly $5.8 million budgeted this year for Waveny House, including a $4 million HVAC replacement, $1.3 million in exterior improvements, $360,000 in exterior doors and a $45,000 audio system. She noted the property generates about $200,000 a year in wedding revenue against $130,000 in running costs.

"I think it deserves a more detailed review," Flynn said. — Eel Flynn, New Canaan resident, public comment

Leviieri responded that the board had already cut the $4 million HVAC project from the capital plan three weeks earlier, leaving roughly $600,000 for maintenance and abatement work.

Finance staff members Ryan and Ann then presented reconciled operating and capital figures, walking the board through changes from the Board of Selectmen's recommended budget: a roughly $2.1 million decline in projected tax collections, a $960,000 reduction in transfers to tax-supported capital, and a $357,000 increase in debt service tied to bonds being retired sooner than originally scheduled. Ann said the change reflected the town's policy of bonding equipment based on useful life rather than a straight-line schedule.

"So now that takes it, those all those three things, 800, 300, 500, $1.6 million of ability to reduce the operating expenses," Leviieri said. — Todd Leviieri, Board of Finance chair

Why It Matters

The vote sets the town's opening position before the Board of Selectmen forwards the recommendation to the Town Council, which by charter must publish notice of a public hearing for two consecutive weeks before acting. The $169.7 million tax levy is about $3 million, or roughly 1 percent, below what selectmen had recommended, driven mainly by $1.1 million in ongoing school savings, a one-time $500,000 health insurance fund transfer and reduced tax-supported capital spending. A separate $1 million placeholder for legacy library building preservation remains in the capital plan but is not yet approved for bonding. The board also deferred a $4 million Waveny House HVAC project pending further review of costs tied to potential Saxe school enrollment growth.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Approval of February 24 meeting minutes Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Approval of amended February 26 meeting minutes Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Fiscal year 2027 total general fund operating expenditure budget, $185,229,451 Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Fiscal year 2027 general fund non-tax revenue budget, $10,552,461 Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Fiscal year 2027 proposed fund balance contribution, $5 million Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Fiscal year 2027 proposed amount to be raised by taxation, $169,676,990 Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Fiscal year 2027 proposed property tax collection rate, 98.5 percent Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Fiscal year 2027 total sewer fund revenue and expense budget, $2,198,400 Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Fiscal year 2027 total other funds revenue budget, $2,522,850 Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Fiscal year 2027 total other funds expense budget, $2,571,470 Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Fiscal year 2027 capital projects per the five-year capital plan, $19,765,484 Tally: Approved unanimously - Vote: Highway department line-item transfer moving funds from supplies/auto truck into repairs/mobile equipment Tally: Approved unanimously

Source

Town Of New Canaan: Board of Finance meeting, March 5, 2026