The Hidden Cost of Low Tax Increases: Enfield’s Shrinking Fund Balance

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Whoever wins Tuesday’s election may soon wish they hadn’t. The new Town Council will inherit a budget crisis shaped by two converging forces: a new property revaluation and a dangerously depleted fund balance — the town’s financial cushion for emergencies and unexpected costs. How Did We Get Here?  Over the past two years, the Republican-controlled council has drawn at least $13.6 million from the fund balance to keep tax increases low.  What Is the Fund Balance? The unassigned fund balance consists of unspent money from department budgets and revenues that exceed expectations. In municipal budgeting, it serves as a safety net — covering unexpected emergencies such as sewer failures, and lawsuits. It can also be used strategically to soften tax increases, especially in revaluation years. The key word is strategically. Using reserves occasionally makes sense. Draining them year after year — especially before a revaluation — does not. What Happened Over the Past Two Years At the...
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Enfield Democrats Surge in Fundraising as GOP Treads Water

 

A recent protest in Enfield, part of the nationwide "Good Trouble Lives On," in honor this month of the late Congressman John Lewis. More than 1,600 rallies were held nationwide. 


The local Democrats are off to a good start in fundraising for this year’s local election.

In the second quarter of this year, the Enfield Democratic Town Committee raised $13,911 from April through June—outpacing Republicans nearly 9-to-1, according to state campaign finance filings.

The Enfield Republican Town Committee raised just $1,583 during the same period.

Democrats began the quarter with a negative balance of –$1,294, but raised enough to erase their debts and finish with $7,092 in the bank.

Republicans hold the cash advantage

Despite the strong Democratic quarter, Republicans still hold a cash-on-hand advantage, thanks to a $12,911 reserve they carried into the quarter. They ended the period with $14,300 in the bank.

But when it comes to momentum and new donor activity, Democrats clearly have the upper hand for now.

This early fundraising snapshot suggests that local Democrats are more energized and better organized than they were two years ago. Still, the Republican committee remains well-funded and organized. They have time to catch up. 

Can the Democrats win?

Possibly.

In 2021, their townwide sweep may have been boosted by backlash against Donald Trump—especially in the wake of the January 6 Capitol attack. Anti-Trump sentiment runs deep in Enfield. One protest in town that year drew as many as 700 people, a remarkable turnout for a town this size.

How hot are local issues?

National politics aside, local frustrations could play a big role in turnout.

Property taxes remain a flashpoint, but education may be the more potent issue. Some voters feel Republican leadership has gone too far—either by cutting too much or failing to prioritize school funding. And the tone of local GOP leaders—often combative and confrontational—may alienate moderate voters and provoke its own form of backlash. But the Republican approach may appeal to tax-sensitive voters.  

This year’s races will say a lot—not just about Enfield’s politics, but about what kind of leadership style voters are willing to support.
Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA

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