It's the Overspending, Stupid

Greenwich homeowners just got hit with an average 8% property tax increase, and Democrat leaders’ excuse is pathetic: Blame revaluation and the new budget. It’s not revaluation. To paraphrase James Carville, it’s the overspending, stupid. Despite the state’s lowest mill rate, our per-resident tax burden is among the highest in Connecticut because this town refuses to control exploding school costs, runaway capital projects, and an ever-growing list of unaffordable priorities. Taxpayers deserve better.

Greenwich homeowners just received notice of an average 8% property tax increase for FY2027. Democrat BET Chair David Weisbrod’s explanation: the state-mandated revaluation and the new budget “happened at the same time.”

Revaluation only redistributes the burden; It doesn’t grow the total tax levy. We boast Connecticut’s lowest mill rate at 10.125%, yet our average property taxes per resident remain among the highest in the state. To paraphrase James Carville, it’s the overspending, stupid.

While some cost drivers — such as union wages tied to state settlements, rising healthcare costs, and interest rates — lie partly beyond the Town’s control, local leaders bear direct responsibility for the rest. Over the past decade, school spending has increased sharply even as enrollment remained flat or declined, leaving schools like Julian Curtiss, New Lebanon, and Parkway operating well below capacity. The same pattern now threatens the new, high-priced Central Middle School. We warned this would happen.

Capital spending has exploded, doubling this year to over $90 million, with $148 million planned for FY2028 and $135 million for FY2029. Projects balloon in scope and cost – see the Skating Rink (~$40+ million) and proposed High School Pool (~$57+ million) – fueled by delays, inflation, and unchecked ambition. Nine years ago, the BET commissioned a sensible KD&G* master facilities plan that the School Board adopted – only to immediately ignore it. New projects get added and accelerated while nothing is ever deferred or reprioritized. When reasonable objections are raised, they are routinely dismissed with widely-publicized emotional appeals that the money must be spent “for the children.” Even worse, some people actually bring their children to RTM meetings as props to reinforce their "spend more for the children" message. It's an embarrassing tactic which we've always seen through.

The result is no longer a disciplined plan but a chaotic pile-up of overlapping mega-projects fighting for the same dollars, contractors, and attention.

*KD&G is the Architecture firm hired by Greenwich's BET to create the 15-year school facilities master plan.