Dear Residents,

Like many other processes in Town, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the annual budget process. Typically, the Board of Finance holds budget sessions with the Boards of Education and Selectmen. After these sessions, the public is invited to a hearing to comment on the budget.

This year, the Board of Finance budget sessions were moved from in-person meetings to virtual meetings pursuant the Governor’s Executive Orders.  Members of the Board of Finance submitted questions and comments by email to CAO Bob Skinner and Superintendent of Schools Kevin Case, who ensured the questions and answers were archived for the public record.  Additionally, we had to cancel the in-person public hearing and request that town residents send their comments via email to town officials.  Those inquiries have been included as part of the archived public record.

The next step in the budget process is a Board of Finance budget workshop.  Again, per the Governor’s orders, this meeting will be a virtual meeting.

The Board of Finance will hold a Budget Workshop in a Virtual Meeting 4/1/20 at 4:30pm.  Please use the link below to join:

AGENDA

You can join by dialing in using your phone.
United States: +1 (669) 224-3412

Access Code: 230-690-805

The public is invited to send questions and comments via email at budgetquestions@townofcantonct.org. These emails will be forwarded automatically to all members of the BOF, Superintendent, CAO, Chair of BOE and First Selectman. This will include emails received during the meeting. All emails received will be made part of the record and included in the minutes of the meetings, similar to public comments that are received during regular Board of Finance meetings.

At this meeting, the Board of Finance will discuss how to balance projected income against proposed expenses and decide whether and how to adjust the Boards of Education and Selectmen’s proposed budgets. The Board of Finance, along with the Board of Selectmen at its April 1st meeting, will be approving a revised budget schedule. Once that schedule is determined the Town will broadcast the schedule through various media forms, including social media and on the Town webpage.  
 
Without a doubt, these are extraordinary times. We hope this process preserves our obligation to involve the public in our budget deliberations while developing a responsible budget for the year ahead.

Stay well,
Bob Bessel