Litchfield Keeps Mill Rate Flat at 22.49 in 2026-2027

The Board of Finance will keep Litchfield's mill rate unchanged at 22.49 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year despite approving a $9.426 million budget, a 2.05 percent increase over the current year. The board will draw $216,000 from the Positive Balance Fund to avoid raising taxes.

The $189,276 budget increase remains modest, Board of Finance Chairman Michael Sconyers said at a Monday public hearing. "The Board of Selectmen deserves credit for this, despite dealing with a couple of curveballs."

Those complications stem from a town meeting two weeks ago that approved $270,000 for a plow truck and $130,000 toward a $1.1 million fire truck, both funded from the terminated town pension plan. The new budget allocates another $130,000 for the fire truck and includes money for a second plow truck.

First Selectman Henry Tirrell has applied for federal Congressional discretionary funds to help cover the fire truck purchase.

Residents will vote on the budget at a town meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, May 11, at Botelle School.