Posts

Showing posts from May, 2025

Enfield’s Trash Outsourcing Report: Keep It In-House

Image
This table is from a consultant’s report prepared for the town of Enfield by Mercer Group Associates and BridgeGroup. RRM refers to the town’s Refuse and Resource Management division. The table also notes that 2025 is an election year, hinting at possible political considerations. Enfield has released the final consulting report on the possibility of outsourcing trash hauling — and it recommends keeping the service in-house. The report by Mercer Group Associates and BridgeGroup LLC says the town would see only “limited” cost savings by outsourcing its Refuse and Resource Management (RRM) services. But the town also provides a level of service that many other municipalities don’t necessarily offer. It describes RRM as having an “experienced, committed staff” with a “strong work ethic,” and warns that outsourcing could mean losing that expertise. At the same time, the consultants say the town could improve efficiency and productivity through better management, equipment replacement, and ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Enfield Can’t Outsource Its Conscience

Image
  Community Conversation forum May 7 2025 Sometimes you have to explain yourself. At the Community Conversations last night, I was slightly angry when speaking about the waste outsourcing issue—especially when I demanded the release of the  consulting report. That was rude of me, and I felt bad afterward. Still, my anger over outsourcing comes from years of experience. I don’t fault the Council Republicans or Mayor Ken Nelson, who received my quiet anger, for investigating outsourcing. It’s the government's job to explore options. Many towns outsource; many reject it. But if this town thinks residents will approve it in a referendum, they’re not reading the room. Anyone who’s worked for a sizable company likely knows someone affected by outsourcing. Few speak well of it. As a former tech reporter at Computerworld and Informa TechTarget, I covered IT management, which often meant reporting on outsourcing. Companies rarely wanted to talk. My job was to find the IT workers losing...
Post a Comment
Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA
Read more

Enfield Property Taxes Could Rise About 3% Under New Budget

Image
Town Council budget workshop May 6 Residential property taxes for Enfield residents are projected to rise by approximately 3% under the current town budget proposal. This figure emerged during a wide-ranging, and sometimes contentious budget workshop Tuesday with school board officials. Council members discussed topics ranging from school discipline issues to the possibility of running school buses in-house. This was the final budget workshop.  Following lengthy meeting, council members settled on a budget that raises the mill rate from 30.56 to 31.50—an increase of 0.94 mills. This could still change before final budget adoption.  The Board of Education budget will increase by 4%, less than the 5.57% or $4.3 million increase initially sought. The board had requested that increase to reduce class sizes, restore positions cut last year, and meet other pressing needs.  Council Democrats supported fully funding the school board’s request. Mayor Ken Nelson argued that the ap...
Post a Comment
Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA
Read more

Enfield Republicans Own the Budget — and the Tough Choices Ahead

Image
Enfield Public Schools staffing levels fluctuated significantly over the past decade, peaking at 1,030 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions in 2023-24 before dropping to 823 FTE in the current school year, according to data presented at the April 28 2025 public hearing on the town budget. The increases in the 2021 through 2024 were related to COVID funding; the decrease followed a major cut last year to the board's budget. The school department is seeking a staff increase to 857 next year. Many of these staff increases are designed to lower class sizes. (School board slide) E nfield’s next budget will decide more than tax rates. It will tell us how much the town is willing to invest in its schools and maintain public services. It's impossible to minimize the budget problem facing the Town Council. It's being squeezed by flat revenues and rising costs. This budget is almost certain to deliver a tax hike to residents unless the council does some reckless things.  The town f...
Post a Comment
Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA
Read more