Cromwell Board of Finance Approves $542,762 Tax Suspense List, Hears End-of-Year Reports

Town Council · Meeting of June 25, 2026

CT CROMWELL — Cromwell Board of Finance votes to suspend $542,762 in uncollected taxes as fiscal year 2026 ends. The board unanimously approved the tax collector's suspense list of $542,762.20, covering personal property and motor vehicle delinquencies, at its June 25 meeting — a higher-than-usual total attributed to an auditor recommendation that all eligible non-real-estate amounts be moved to suspense at once. Members flagged Philips Telehealth and Lenovo Financial Services as the list's largest corporate entries and questioned why those debts had not been pursued more aggressively, with follow-up deferred to the tax collector.

Director of Finance Sharon reported tax collections closed fiscal year 2026 at 98.6 percent of budget, with conveyance taxes, investment income, and transfer station revenue all coming in above projections. Town Manager Tony confirmed the recreation director and HR director positions have been filled with outside hires from Brookfield and the state, and said he expects to bring an assessor appointment to the council following interviews conducted the day of the meeting. The school building project carries roughly $5 million in unencumbered funds and is tracking toward a state audit by end of calendar year 2026.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 1,071 words

Source: the Town Council meeting of June 25, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

CROMWELL — June 25, 2026 — The Cromwell Board of Finance voted unanimously Thursday to place $542,762.20 in uncollected taxes on a suspense list, acting on a recommendation from the town's tax collector as the fiscal year drew to a close.

The board also approved a $4,100 interdepartmental transfer and five sets of meeting minutes before receiving a series of year-end updates from town staff. The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:25 p.m.

The Full Story

The tax collector's suspense list, totaling $542,762.20, drew the most discussion of the evening. The list encompasses personal property and motor vehicle taxes — not real estate — that the tax collector has deemed uncollectable after repeated attempts. The chair explained the purpose of the vote before calling for discussion.

"If we do approve, we can still collect and go after people on this list," the chair noted, clarifying that moving amounts to suspense does not extinguish the underlying obligation. Members discussed the accounting mechanics, with one member asking how the reclassification would affect the town's balance sheet. Staff indicated the amounts would appear in a different column in the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report but that the fund balance would not be directly reduced. Members noted the list included entries as small as 41 cents dating to 2016 and identified Philips Telehealth and Lenovo Financial Services as the two largest corporate entries on the list, with fragmented line items each running roughly $20,000 per entry. One member questioned why the town had not pursued those companies more aggressively. Staff indicated the tax collector had already made collection attempts. The total suspense list was described as higher than in prior years because the tax collector, following an auditor recommendation, moved all eligible non-real-estate amounts into suspense at once rather than doing so incrementally.

The board also approved a $4,100 transfer from employee benefits to the tax collector's account to cover tax refunds. Staff confirmed the figure was sufficient to cover remaining obligations with approximately one week left in fiscal year 2026.

Director of Finance Sharon reported that tax collections reached 98.6 percent of budgeted amounts, matching the tax collector's projections. She said conveyance taxes, investment income, and transfer station revenues all exceeded budgeted figures. She noted a favorable $91,000 variance from the State of Connecticut and described the transfer station as a consistent over-performer.

"Revenue for tax collections made it to 98.6, and that's what the tax collector predicted. The conveyance taxes, investments, and transfer station are all over what was budgeted for revenue," Sharon said, summarizing the fiscal year-end picture.

Town Manager Tony reported that he had filled the recreation director and HR director positions, with both new hires coming from outside Cromwell — one from Brookfield and one from the state. He said he interviewed two candidates for assessor the day of the meeting and expected to bring a recommendation to the council for approval. He also confirmed that a signed abatement agreement is in place for 100 Berlin Road and that demolition of the structure — described by members as roughly six years in the making — is expected to begin this summer, starting with the parking garage. Advanced Auto Parts was identified as an incoming tenant at another commercial site in town.

Board member Blanchette reported on the school building project, noting that the project is approximately 91 percent through its appropriation, with an unencumbered balance of roughly $5 million remaining. He said the project is on track for a state audit by the end of calendar year 2026, and that remaining open items include solar panel installation, softball field fencing work, hallway repainting, and a multi-purpose field that the building committee recommended holding off on for fall use. Staff confirmed a $6 million reimbursement request had been submitted to the state, with one additional final submission anticipated before the project closes.

Board of Education Liaison report, read by the chair from an email submitted by liaison Ms. Ross, announced the selection of Mike Lucas, currently of Oxford, Massachusetts, as the district's new superintendent, effective after an interim period. Ramsey Binnington, principal of Woodside Intermediate School, was named interim superintendent to bridge the gap between Dr. Macri's June 30 retirement and Lucas's late-July start. The board also announced the selection of Peter Colachino as the new Cromwell Middle School principal, replacing Ann Cociola upon her June 30 retirement. The district continues to search for a director of finance, transportation and food services following the June 30 retirement of Chris Butwell, who held the role for two years.

Why It Matters

The $542,762.20 suspense list represents uncollected personal property and motor vehicle taxes the town no longer expects to receive in the normal course of collection. While approval does not write off the debts permanently and collection efforts may continue, the reclassification affects how the amounts are reported in the town's annual financial statements. The tax collector has indicated she may seek to move the suspense process to October or November in future years, which the board agreed to discuss at a coming meeting.

The school building project's approach to final state audit — with roughly $5 million in unencumbered funds and a state reimbursement request pending — means the board will need to track how any remaining appropriation balance is treated once the audit is complete. Members noted that any surplus cannot be used for debt prepayment during the first 10 years and will remain in the project until released.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Seat alternate Mr. Corigliano in for Mr. Maley Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approval of tax collector suspense list totaling $542,762.20 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Interdepartmental transfer of $4,100 from employee benefits to tax collector for fiscal year 2026 tax refunds Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approve special meeting minutes of March 18, 2026 Tally: For: majority aye, Against: 0, Abstain: 1 (Vice Chair)

- Vote: Approve public hearing minutes of April 2, 2026 Tally: For: majority aye, Against: 0, Abstain: 1 (Mr. Corigliano)

- Vote: Approve special meeting minutes of April 2, 2026 Tally: For: majority aye, Against: 0, Abstain: 1 (Mr. Corigliano)

- Vote: Approve meeting minutes [fourth set — date unclear from transcript] Tally: For: majority aye, Against: 0, Abstain: 1 (Mr. Corigliano)

- Vote: Approve special meeting minutes of May 7, 2026 Tally: For: majority aye, Against: 0, Abstain: 0

Source

Cromwell's community access TV: Board of Finance meeting, June 25, 2026