Ledyard Finance Committee approves amended Budget Letter of Directive for FY 2026/2027

At a special hybrid meeting on December 9, 2025 (5:00 p.m., Town Hall Annex Building), the Ledyard Finance Committee (Chair Jessica Buhle, Councilor Carmen Garcia‑Irizarry; Tim Ryan excused) reviewed and approved a revised Budget Letter of Directive to the Mayor and Board of Education for preparation of the Fiscal Year 2026/2027 budget. The committee adopted three substantive amendments requiring (1) language noting the Town Council’s intention to reduce the mill rate substantially following the 2025 revaluation; (2) departmental submissions to include ranked top-ten priorities, an "excellence gap" narrative, and justification for increases; and (3) tighter formatting and transparency for the Board of Education budget (separate grouped salary lines by school, supplies/services/utilities by school) plus identification of services that could be shared with other towns or between the BOE and Town. The committee set an expectation that overall requested increases be limited to below three percent unless clearly justified. The motion was recommended for Town Council approval (vote 2-0). Residents raised concerns about last year’s directive not being followed and about the 2025 property revaluation.