West Hartford Town Manager Rick Ledwith proposed a $370.3 million budget Tuesday night that increases spending by 6.55% and would result in a 7.35% tax increase.

By Ronni Newton

Town Manager Rick Ledwith presented the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget to the Town Council Tuesday night, noting that there are challenges to be met prior to adoption of the spending plan, as Council members meet in committees to review each line item and hear from the community at two public hearings as well as several Town Hall meeting-style open discussions.

The proposed $370,290,339 FY26 budget increases overall spending by 6.55% ($22,751,258) over the town’s FY25 budget.

Town services are projected to increase by $7,472,909 (5.73%), and Board of Education expenses, based on the proposal delivered by Superintendent of Schools Paul Vicinus on March 4, are estimated to increase $14,422,944 (7.18%). Capital financing costs are estimated to increase in FY26 by $855,405 (5.27%). The percentage of each category relative to the overall budget is virtually unchanged from past years.

Under the proposed FY26 budget, the current mill rate of 42.35 mills would increase to 45.21 mills (6.75%) while the motor vehicle mill rate, subject to a cap by state statute, will remain unchanged at 32.46 mills.

The proposed budget, Ledwith said, “recognizes the challenges we face as a community while reaffirming our commitment to providing the highest level of services for our residents,” with strength and purpose. “This budget helps us strengthen our community by investing in services for a resilient future. It is a budget that balances fiscal responsibility with the strategic investments needed to sustain and enhance the quality of life that makes West Hartford the best place to live, work, and play in Connecticut.”

Ledwith provided specific details about those challenges during his presentation, noting that the key drivers on the town expense side are payroll and risk management – the latter of which is primarily the increase in health care premiums. On the Board of Education side, salaries and benefits are also major drivers, along with the significant and under-reimbursed increase in tuition costs for out-of-district special education placements and transportation.

While there will likely be refinement in the numbers over the next several weeks, Ledwith noted that the overall approach to the budget will maintain the following priorities:

• “We will continue to invest in public safety, infrastructure, and safe mobility for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, ensuring that our streets, parks, and facilities remain safe and accessible.
• “We will prioritize education, giving our students and teachers the resources they need to sustain the excellence that has defined our school districts for decades.
• “We will expand sustainability initiatives, strengthen our resiliency, and reinforce our commitment to a greener future.
• “We will maintain a strong, stable financial position, balancing necessary investments with responsible fiscal management.”

Expenses and drivers

Wages and salaries are the largest piece of the town’s budget, and are estimated to increase by 7.0%, or $3.6 million. The costs are associated with full-time employees who have negotiated agreements, including the compounding effect of the CSEA agreement which was ratified this year but is retroactive to 2021, and the increase in the minimum wage for part-time and seasonal employees.

Operating expenses are up by just $266,122 (0.9%) this year, Ledwith said, in comparison to last year when they increased by $1.2 million. “This is the category we have the most control over and one where we cut significantly in preparation for this budget,” he said.

The largest expense increase on the town side – $3.6 million or 7.5% – is in the category of fringe benefits/insurance/bonded pension liability. The town, as well as West Hartford Public Schools, participates in the State Partnership Plan for heath care and premiums are projected to increase 9.9%, in comparison to last year when they rose just 2%. Over the span of the last seven years, however, the average increase is 4.6%, Ledwith said.

Pension costs are up by $650,000, which is a smaller increase than last year.

The largest percentage of the general fund expenditure is education, “which makes sense in that we employ 1,600 full-time employees who are responsible for educating 9,000-plus Pre-K to Grade 12 students,” and the break-out doesn’t change much from year to year and is similar for any town or city in the state, Ledwith said.

 

Other than education, the largest departments are public safety (police and fire) and public works. “As we begin to look at reducing our $7 million increase,” Ledwith said, “we will turn over every rock we can.”

While the Town Council cannot specifically adjust the education budget – only the overall allocation – Ledwith noted that when Vicinus presented his 2025-26 budget last week, it highlighted special education costs as a key driver, in particularly a $3.6 million increase in tuition for outpaced students, with reduced excess cost reimbursement by the state. Thankfully, what was originally thought to be a shortfall in the current fiscal year due to a reduction in excess cost reimbursement has been addressed by the legislature. “Our school district was facing a significant shortfall in their budget this year because of a reduction in this year’s excess cost reimbursement, but thanks to the mayor and our delegation, that reduction will be reversed for this fiscal year.  With that being said we will work closely with our superintendent and his team to strike a balance that maintains our investment in our future and allows our schools to continue to prepare and inspire all of our students,” Ledwith said.

The town, and the schools, are “people” organizations, and people-related costs account for more than three-quarters of overall expenses.

Revenue

Property taxes are the primary source of revenue for cities and towns throughout Connecticut, and West Hartford is no different. An estimated 86.6% of the revenue for FY26 will come from local property taxes, “which is certainly a challenge for us but one that we have been accustomed to managing,” Ledwith said. The percentage of revenue derived from property taxes has not changed much over the years.

Property taxes are based on the Grand List as of October 1 of the previous year, and when West Hartford’s Grand List was published in January, there was a modest increase of just $8,5 million. While the town experienced growth in real and personal property, it was largely offset by a reduction in the value of motor vehicles of more than $50 million due to legislation that required use of the Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) rather than the the National Automobile Dealers Association pricing guide.

“The impact of that state law change significantly impacted most cities and towns around the state and to address that impact, the legislature passed HB 7067, which gives municipalities an option of essentially reversing this negative impact by adding 5% to the depreciation schedule,” Ledwith said. “I will recommend accepting this option which would increase our Grand List growth from $8.5 million to $53.5 million, essentially reversing the arbitrary decrease caused by that original law.” It will likely be an even greater difference, he added, and a more precise number will be provided at the next Town Council meeting when there will be a vote on a resolution to re-publish the Grand List with the updated motor vehicle valuation.

“In the end our Grand List growth this year will be one of the higher dollar amount increases we have seen in a non-revaluation year in the last 20 years, indicating our strong economic health,” Ledwith said.

Also having a positive impact on revenue is the “charge for service” which will increased by more than $1 million, primarily reflecting building permit fees for new developments throughout the town.

Total state aid will also increase slightly.

CIP

The town’s 12-year Capital Improvement Plan, which totals nearly $547 million, is “our Town Council’s very important commitment to maintaining infrastructure” – town and school facilities, transportation and infrastructure, and flood mitigation – and is primarily funded through the issuance of General Obligation Bonds and federal and state grants. As part of the adoption of the FY26 budget, the Council will vote to approve years 1 and 2 of the CIP, proposed at $50.4 million and $43.3 million respectively.

The chart below shows some of the major planned capital fund investments in the next two years.

The CIP is 85.5% funded through bonds, and Ledwith said the town will continue to apply for grants as further offsets to costs.

Accomplishments

Before outlining the budget itself, Ledwith also provided a brief overview of recent and remarkable accomplishments, noting that the “past year was one of historic growth and progress for our town and one we should be proud of.”

Those accomplishments include:

• Being recognized by Niche as the best place to live in Connecticut for the seventh year in a row. “To quote our mayor, this is not by accident, this is through the hard work of our Town Council and our staff and is a testament to our strong schools, outstanding public safety, excellent services, thriving economy, and exceptional quality of life.”
• Economic growth through projects that have been approved total an investment of more than $250 million that will “reshape our landscape, attracting new businesses, expanding housing options, and enhancing our tax base and making our town a premier destination for economic activity in Connecticut. This surge in development reflects our commitment to smart growth, ensuring a prosperous and sustainable future for residents and businesses alike.”
• The town has made meaningful strides in expanding housing accessibility, adding another $1 million in ARPA funds to support the Affordable Housing Development Plan, which has helped increase the percentage of affordable housing in town from 7.65% to 8.04%. “When we look at the number of affordable units that our council has approved but has not yet been constructed, we will be at or very close to 9%, moving us ever closer to our goal of 10% or more units in town being affordable,” Ledwith said.
• West Hartford continues its commitment to sustainability and this year was one of six communities in the state to earn the Sustainable CT Gold Certification. “Achieving this certification is a significant milestone, and it highlights the hard work we have all put in to making our town a more resilient place to live. We should be proud of this accomplishment and continuing to strive to build on this momentum,” said Ledwith.
• Working with the state delegation, the town has received a $2 million investment in the Transit-Oriented Development District, and there is hope for a future train station, adding to the CT Fastrak stations, protected bike lanes, and Trout Brook Trail to make the area even more vibrant and connected.
• Securing the donation of the nearly 9-acre park property at 1700 Asylum, which includes the Miracle League field, will ensure and allow of the expansion of “recreational opportunities for all, for generations to come.”
• Efforts to improve transportation and mobility include the implementation of 115 Vision Zero projects last year, and the securing of a $3.2 million Safe Street and Roadways for All (SS4A) grant. “As we continue to experience the economic growth and development that we have, our Vision Zero work is critical, we are a regional draw with a significant population of living within 45 minutes of West Hartford and we have an obligation to improve the safety of our streets for all residents and visitors and this budget continues to move us towards Vision Zero,” Ledwith said.
• The commitment to high quality schools remains, and the past year’s accolades has included a Blue Ribbon elementary school, schools of distinction, and Conard and Hall achieving rankings in the top 3% nationally.

“These accomplishments are a direct result of our shared commitment to smart planning, community investment, and an unwavering dedication to making West Hartford a place where all residents can thrive,” Ledwith said.

What’s next

The Town Council’s committees, as well as the Board of Education, will be working hard and reviewing the budget in detail over the upcoming weeks during virtual meetings and workshops that can be viewed by the public through West Hartford Community Interactive.

The public will have the opportunity to comment on the town’s General Fund budget at public hearings scheduled for Tuesday, April 1, at 2 p.m. at Town Hall, and Tuesday, April 8, at 6 p.m. at Town Hall.

In addition to the workshops and public hearing listed below, this year the Town Council and Board of Education will host a listening tour, providing an additional opportunity for community conversation regarding the budget. The town manager, superintendent of schools, mayor, deputy mayor, and board of education chair and vice chair plan to participate. Those sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, March 12 at 3:30 p.m. at the Bishops Corner Senior Center, as well as on Monday, March 31, at 8:45 a.m. at the Faxon Library and at 6 p.m. at the Noah Webster Library.

All budget documents, including the Budget in Brief, will be posted on the town’s website for review.

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