By Dionna Carlson
On March 5th, the Board of Finance (BOF) approved a 2.3% increase to the Town’s expenditure budget and a 3.4% increase to the amount to be raised by taxation. I’d like to thank the members of the BOF for their careful review and thoughtful consideration throughout the budget process. For additional context and explanation regarding the Board’s decisions, please see BOF Chair Todd Lavieri’s Op-Ed letter on Page 1 of the March 12 edition of this newspaper or in the News Stories section on the homepage of the Town’s website: newcanaan.info.
With the BOF’s work complete, the Budget Recommendation moved to the Town Council (TC) for their review and consideration. The TC’s process will include further discussion and concludes with a public hearing on April 2nd and a final budget vote scheduled for April 14th. I encourage residents to stay informed and engaged during this phase of the process. As a reminder, all budget documents are available on the homepage of the Town’s website. Simply click on the “Budget Documents” icon located beneath the main photo.
America250 New Canaan
In other news, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of our great nation. New Canaan will join communities across the country in celebrating this historic milestone. The Town has planned a series of events running from Flag Day on June 14th through Veteran’s Day on November 11th. The community-wide Signature Events will be the NC250 Parade on June 27th and the Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular on July 4th.
To learn more about the exciting programs and activities being organized, please visit newcanaan.info and click the blue “America250 New Canaan” tab at the top of the homepage.
News From Town Hall
This month also marks the second full year since we began emailing the News From Town Hall monthly newsletter directly to those who sign up to receive it. My hope from the beginning was that the newsletter would help residents feel more informed about and engaged with local government. If you do not receive News From Town Hall, you may subscribe at NewCanaanAlerts.gov.
In hopes that March truly goes out like a lamb and that warmer spring days are just around the corner….
Dionna Carlson is the New Canaan First Selectman. Her leadership is guided by a respect for local decision-making and a commitment to keeping residents informed and engaged.
