Enfield Can’t Outsource Its Conscience

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  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 “damn” 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, I covered IT management, which often meant reporting on outsourcing. Companies rarely wanted to talk. My job was to find the IT workers losing their jobs and repor...
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Enfield Property Taxes Could Rise About 3% Under New Budget


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 approved 4% increase was one of the largest the school board had ever received.

For a home with a market value of $235,000 (assessed at $164,500, or 70%), the property tax bill would increase from $5,027 to $5,181—an increase of $154.63, or 3.08%.

The $235,000 figure is the town manager's estimate of the average market value of homes in Enfield. 

School Superintendent Steven Moccio noted that the funding would still allow for about 16 new positions, instead of the 30-plus originally requested.

The Town Manager originally proposed a 2.67-mill increase and a $162 million budget (a 5.12% increase). The final proposal now under discussion is closer to $158 million, or about a 2.5% increase, for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2025.
Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA

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