Cromwell Board of Finance approves nearly $70 million fiscal year 2027 budget

Board of Finance · Meeting of April 7, 2026

Cromwell Board of Finance unanimously approves a $69.9 million fiscal year 2027 town budget. Chair John Ireland led the April 7 special meeting through every department budget and a lengthy capital list, arriving at a combined total of $69,925,608 across three buckets: $42,482,767 for the Board of Education, $23,801,778 for general government, and $3,641,063 for debt service. Debt service rose roughly $880,000 year over year as the Cromwell Middle School project moved into its permanent bond phase, and employee benefits climbed 20 percent after the town received only one bid on its health insurance contract, producing a $5,530,145 appropriation.

The board voted 5-1 to expand a school telephone system upgrade from one building to all three remaining schools with aging infrastructure, raising that capital item from $55,206 to $190,368 on safety grounds. The board also authorized $620,531 in accumulated state loss-of-funds grants for a Cedar Drive and Colts Road drainage project estimated at $775,760 total.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 1,498 words

Source: the Board of Finance meeting of April 7, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

CROMWELL — April 7, 2026 — The Cromwell Board of Finance voted unanimously to approve a total fiscal year 2027 appropriation of $69,925,608 at a special meeting Tuesday, covering town general government, the Board of Education, and debt service.

Chair John Ireland presided over the lengthy session, which moved department by department through operating budgets and a substantial capital and non-recurring expenditure list before arriving at three final appropriations: $42,482,767 for the Board of Education, $23,801,778 for general government, and $3,641,063 for debt service. The meeting also authorized $620,531 in loss-of-funds money toward a drainage improvement project on Cedar Drive and Colts Road, with an estimated total project cost of $775,760.

The Full Story

The board began the evening with the police department's proposed budget of $4,770,439 for line item 36. A representative from the department — identified in the transcript only by rank and role — told the board the department had obtained more than $20,000 in DUI grant funding, purchased new patrol rifles, added a third school resource officer, and received its highest-tier accreditation. The department also noted it is currently three officers down following a retirement and two resignations. Member Ed Maley confirmed the budget accounts for full staffing levels despite the vacancies.

"We promise you we've got some good strong units right now across different years." [00:02:45] — Police department representative

The board approved $102,622 for animal control and $22,050 for emergency management without discussion. Emergency Management Director Kevin Manish appeared briefly; Chair Ireland and other members noted the town has shifted to listing positions rather than employee names in budget documents, following a practice adopted by the Board of Education.

Public Works Director John Harriman walked the board through the department's $5,396,694 operating budget — line item 27 — covering administration, engineering, solid waste, highway, building maintenance, parks and grounds, and utilities. Harriman highlighted that Cromwell and neighboring Rocky Hill currently hold the two highest Pavement Condition Index scores in Connecticut, both at roughly 85 to 87 on a 100-point scale. He attributed the performance to disciplined road management, in-house crack-sealing equipment obtained through a state cost-share grant, and consistent capital investment.

"You know, us and, coincidentally, Rocky Hill have the two highest PCIs in state Connecticut. So kudos to them. And we were about half a point above them." [00:24:31] — Public Works Director John Harriman

A lengthy discussion centered on a streetlight replacement fund, currently set at $70,000 per year transferred to a restricted account. Member Matthew Blanchette questioned whether the transfer should be reclassified as a capital item rather than embedded in the utilities line. Harriman noted the LED fixtures purchased in 2016 and retrofitted in 2017 carry a 10-year warranty and that the town should begin phased replacement within the next 12 months.

Capital and non-recurring items generated substantial debate. The board voted to place on the future list $32,000 for a pavement management study, $7,500 for a phase two environmental analysis at 20 Jane Corn Road, $16,000 for a phase two environmental analysis at 61 Colts Road, $50,000 for design work related to the high school parking expansion and tennis court relocation, $155,000 for a mini excavator, $80,000 for a four-wheel crew cab dump truck, $16,000 for exterior doors at the senior center and library connector, $22,000 for a 2012 Mason dump truck body refurbishment, and $350,000 for a town-wide property revaluation. A $4,150 appropriation for a hazardous abatement study at the 55 Knox Hill Road fire district pump house and office storage buildings also passed after extended discussion about whether to include demolition funding upfront; the board ultimately approved only the study cost.

The board amended an earlier school telephone system appropriation, expanding it from $55,206 covering only Woodside Intermediate School to $190,368 to include all three remaining schools on aging phone infrastructure, on a 5-1 vote.

"I just go back to if we're being instructed it's a safety issue, I've got a tough time." [01:36:19] — Member James Fedeli

Employee benefits drew significant attention. Finance Director Sharon — surname not provided in the transcript — reported a 20 percent increase in health insurance costs after the town went out to bid and received only one responsive proposal. She said the state partner plan, despite the increase, remained nine percent less expensive than joining the state partnership plan today. The total employee benefits appropriation was $5,530,145.

Why It Matters

The $69,925,608 total is the number that will underpin the mill rate calculation when the town goes to referendum. Debt service is up approximately $880,000 from the prior year, almost entirely due to the Cromwell Middle School construction project entering its permanent bond phase. Health insurance costs added roughly $450,000 more than the prior year's appropriation, and officials acknowledged both pressures are largely outside municipal control. The Cedar Drive and Colts Road drainage project, using $620,531 in accumulated loss-of-funds grants from fiscal years 2024 and 2025, is targeted to begin construction by early summer, addressing flooding that has recurred since a 2021 development-related event overwhelmed the area's stormwater system.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Appropriate $4,770,439 for line item 36, Police Department Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $102,622 for line item 37, Animal Control Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $22,050 for line item 35, Emergency Management Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $5,396,694 for line item 27, Public Works Department Tally: Approved unanimously

• Action: $32,000 pavement management study — placed on future list
• Action: $7,500 phase two environmental analysis, 20 Jane Corn Road — placed on future list
• Action: $16,000 phase two environmental analysis, 61 Colts Road — placed on future list
• Action: $50,000 Cromwell High School parking expansion and tennis court design — placed on future list
• Action: $279,000 Cedar Drive and Colts Road drainage improvements — passed temporarily, then returned and revised

- Vote: Appropriate $155,185 (revised from $279,000) for Cedar Drive and Colts Road drainage improvements, future list Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $4,150 for hazardous abatement study, 55 Knox Hill Road pump house and office storage, future list Tally: Approved unanimously

• Action: $300,000 road improvements — placed on future list

- Vote: Appropriate $155,000 for 2026 mini excavator, future list Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $80,000 for four-wheel crew cab dump truck, future list Tally: Approved unanimously

• Action: Additional capital items for door replacement, dump truck refurbishment, and related equipment — placed on future list

- Vote: Amend school telephone system appropriation from $55,206 to $190,368 to cover all three remaining schools Tally: For: 5, Against: 1, Abstain: 0, Total: 6

- Vote: Appropriate $2,083,202 for line item 16, General Expense (operating and capital combined) Tally: For: 6, Against: 0, Abstain: 0, Total: 6

- Vote: Appropriate $238,451 for line item 38, Health Department Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $160,949 for line item 39, Human Services Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $188,302 for line item 40, Senior Services Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $185,141 for line item, Transportation Services Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $143,170 for senior/disabled transportation vehicle (80 percent grant-funded), future list Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $144,898 for line item 42 (Youth Services) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $322,431 for line item 43 (Recreation) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $817,502 for line item 44, Library Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $366,902 for line item 41, Town Manager's Office Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $149,178 for line item 1A, Human Resources Tally: For: 5, Against: 1, Abstain: 0, Total: 6

- Vote: Appropriate $22,309 for line item 4, Economic Development Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $167,280 for line item 5, Town Planner Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $141,923 for line item, Planning and Zoning Commission Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $126,858 for line item 96, Building and Development Services Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $499,163 for line item, Finance Department Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $64,666 for line item 12, Donations and Dues Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $208,050 (amended from $206,275) for line item 13, Legal Expense Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $295,501 for line item 14, Central Services Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $663,200 for line item 15, Insurance Expense Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $350,000 for revaluation, future list Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $5,530,145 for line item 45, Employee Benefits Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appropriate $3,641,063 for line item 46, Debt Service Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Final appropriation for Board of Education, $42,482,767 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Final appropriation for Debt Service, $3,641,063 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Final appropriation for General Government, $23,801,778 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Authorize use of $620,531 in loss-of-funds money for Cedar Drive and Colts Road drainage project Tally: Approved unanimously

Source

Cromwell's community access TV: Board of Finance meeting, April 7, 2026