Finance Board Prepares for Intensive Budget Season

The Board of Finance met on November 20 for a wide-ranging discussion of mid-year finances, Amity enrollment shifts, tax policy options, and early planning for budget season.

The Town’s Administrative Officer and Director of Finance reported a projected year-end surplus of just over $50,000, despite some unplanned fiscal impacts: a $60,000 revenue loss from the Child Center closure, retroactive police wage adjustments, and two police vacancies that may offset costs. He reported that Amity Regional School District also expects to return $35,000 to Woodbridge from FY25 operations.

The BOF also received an update on Amity district enrollment that underscored a notable shift:

• Orange is down 19 students,
• Bethany is up 4, and
• Woodbridge is up 1.

Because the apportionment formula is based on each town’s share of total enrollment, Orange’s decline — despite Woodbridge’s minimal increase — pushes Woodbridge’s percentage from 35.439% to 35.717% of total district costs. This shift can be expected to result in an additional $158,000 in Woodbridge’s assessment, even with no budget increase.

The Board then addressed two tax policy items referred from the Board of Selectmen. The Board discussed the state’s optional 5% motor-vehicle depreciation adjustment and ultimately voted 3–2 to recommend against adopting it, citing concerns about fairness, administrative complexity, and limited benefit relative to impact.

Members also revisited prior discussion at its joint meeting with the BOS the topic of the state’s new Homestead Exemption statute. While potentially useful, members noted the tool is untested in Connecticut, and legal questions remain about how narrowly it can be applied. They asked that additional modeling be completed for further review if the Selectmen decide to proceed with consideration of this option.

The Board also received an update on the potential transfer of the Warner elderly housing complex on Lucy Street to a nonprofit senior-housing operator. It was reported that the 30-unit property needs $1.8–$2 million in deferred maintenance, which could be funded through tax credits if the transfer proceeds and the BOS enacts an enabling ordinance. This topic is also expected to await further consideration before action is taken.

With budget season approaching, departments are preparing zero-increase options, and the Board discussed how best to keep themselves informed of the details. It was reported that the town will again use the ClearGov online budget tools and the BOF asked to have access arranged for all members to review submissions and historical data. The public can view the ClearGov online budget for the current fiscal year — check the town website’s Annual Budget page for future updated links so residents can follow along from home as the budget process for next year gets underway.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:30 p.m. and the BOF’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 18 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Central Meeting Room. As usual, a meeting notice will appear in advance, as a listing on the town website’s Agenda Center page. BOF meetings are open to the public and streamed live on the Town’s YouTube channel, WGATV79. Click below to watch the full meeting recording.

Editor’s note: This recap is written by Sheila McCreven in her role as editor of the Chronicle. Sheila is also an elected member of the Board of Selectmen (her term ends December 31, 2025). See the Editorial Note on Government Coverage on our About page to learn more.