Town Board approves $14.4 million budget

By NEAL RENTZ

Months of work on the 2026 Lewisboro budget came to an end Dec. 8 when the Town Board voted unanimously to approve next year’s spending plan of $17.463 million, that will meet the state-mandated property tax cap.

The general fund budget for next year is $12.18 million and the highway fund is $5.274 million. 

The board spent several minutes of discussion hashing out a plan to meet the tax cap of 2.51%. Without those changes, the tax increase would have been nearly 3.8%.

Supervisor Tony Gonçalves, who has been asked in the past about his own tax bill, said his town taxes make up 8.8% of his personal total tax bill, while school district taxes make up about 75% of his property taxes. 

A late factor was the town recently learning that the cost of employee health insurance would rise by 9%, which was more than anticipated, Comptroller Annie Burnham said. The town’s contribution to its employees’ pensions is increasing by 12% over the current year, she noted. Two police officers are being hired next year at a total cost of $200,000, she said. 

“That’s the tax cap, basically, right there,” she said. 

To meet the tax cap, the Town Board would need to produce $117,000, she said, adding that the board had already agreed to use $490,000 of the fund balance.

The board discussed whether to hire an additional court clerk, at a cost of $45,000, without health insurance. Councilwoman Andrea Rendo asked Burnham what would be saved if the new court clerk position was part time, rather than full time. The cost would be about $24,000 for a part-time court clerk with no benefits, Burnham said. Councilman Dan Welsh said the town’s current two court clerks have recently been given additional responsibilities because of increased state requirements including new reporting mandates.

Councilman Richard Sklarin expressed concern about the amount of the fund balance being used to not exceed the tax cap.

“We were fortunate that we did not have any completely unforeseen contingencies” in 2025, he said. In addition, the town is considering bonding for millions of dollars in capital projects, which are not included in next year’s budget, he said.

Burnham said the Town Board is going to use more in fund balance than she would have preferred, and she was not in a position to say how much could be taken from the fund balance in 2026 to pay toward capital projects.

Welsh said he supported using additional fund balance to meet the tax cap. Even with the fund balance usage, the town has an adequate fund balance to budget ratio that financial advisors support, he said. 

Highway Superintendent John Winter said he was concerned that the Town Board was going to take $50,000 from his department’s surplus, which he could have used for capital projects or to deal with emergencies. “If there was an emergency we could do a fund transfer,” Gonçalves replied. 

The board agreed to reduce the new court clerk position to part-time status, not have the Town Board members, with the exception of the supervisor, receive a pay increase next year and add an additional $93,541from the fund balance to meet the tax cap. The total fund balance being used in the 2026 budget is $633,541.

Without the last-minute changes, property taxes would have risen by 3.77% next year.

Prior to the budget vote, several residents, including Glenn DeFaber, urged the board to hold down taxes and spending in next year’s ledger. DeFaber said he had broken the budget into two parts — capital needs and ongoing expenses.

“You look at what you need and what you want,” he said.

There is $11 million in planned capital expenditures, and the town will need to spend about $5 million to construct a new police headquarters, DeFaber said. Considering constructing pickleball courts is “insane,” he said. “That’s like saying I have no money to eat, but I’m going out for vacation.”

The highway department was seeking three new employees but will be provided with one new worker, DeFaber said. “At least those workers save the town money,” he said.

DeFaber noted that the town justices were seeking an additional court clerk. His daughter formerly worked as a court clerk and she told him that her work would be completed for the day by 9:30 a.m., and she spent the rest of her work day in another department. He said there are already two court clerks who are receiving overtime.

“Everybody is suffering. Everybody is taking cuts” and there is no need for another court clerk, DeFaber said. 

Rendo’s final meeting

This week’s meeting was the final one for Rendo, who has served on the Town Board for four years. Rendo was defeated in her reelection bid in November.

The last meeting of the year has been rescheduled from Dec. 22 to Monday, Dec. 15, and Rendo said she was not attending because she had a prior commitment and next week’s meeting was not originally scheduled. 

Rendo said it was a privilege serving on the Town Board for the past four years.

“My colleagues and I worked together constructively and professionally,” she said. “On the occasions when we disagreed, I’d like to think we were able to resolve those differences in an equally professional way.”

“As liaison to the Master Plan Steering Committee, I’m glad to have played a part in keeping our progress on track,” Rendo said. “It was wonderful to work with a group of such motivated residents.” 

“I ask that the people of our town stay watchful as the board continues on,” continued Rendo. “The town needs to be diligent in protecting our fund balance and take a conservative approach to a well thought out long-term capital plan.”

Rendo’s work on the Town Board was lauded by her colleagues. “It’s been a pleasure and an honor working with you,” Sklarin said

“It’s no secret that we don’t agree on everything,” Councilwoman Mary Shah told Rendo. “But at the same time, we made space for each other and respected each other professionally.”

“It’s been great. We’ve had a lot of good dialogue,” Gonçalves said to Rendo. “She did challenge me many times but they were good discussions.”

Residents also praised Rendo at this week’s meeting. “We truly appreciate everything you’ve done for the town,” Joe Manno said. “Your ability to listen to us as residents I truly appreciate.