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Kent approves $16.9M budget, increases mill rate by 2.78%

Kent approves $16.9M budget, increases mill rate by 2.78%
Kent Town Hall
Leila Hawken

KENT – More than 40 Kent residents turned out for the annual town budget meeting Friday, May 29, approving the 2026-27 spending plan by a vote of 34-11.

The approved budget will set the mill rate at 17.34, an increase of 2.78% from the current rate of 16.87. For a home assessed at $350,000, the increase is expected to raise annual property taxes by about $200.

The total budget of $16,933,279 includes a Board of Selectman budget of $5,285,669, a Board of Education budget of $5,307,470, and Kent’s share of the Region One budget, $2,783,359, which voters approved districtwide May 5.

Residents unanimously elected resident Steve Pener to serve as the moderator. Penner guided attendees through a series of budget-related motions, including the creation of a new capital project for paving Judd Avenue and Elizabeth Street and several transfers between completed and ongoing capital projects. All were approved.

Much of the discussion centered on questions and criticisms raised by resident Matt Starr, who challenged several budget line items and capital expenditures. Starr questioned the need for a new paving project and unsuccessfully proposed eliminating funding for new highway equipment and a $200,000 town asphalt line item. Both motions were defeated by wide margins following paper-ballot votes.

During discussion of the paving project, town officials explained that work on Judd Avenue and Elizabeth Street would be completed in conjunction with a sidewalk and paving project at Kent Center School.

Members of Kent’s Board of Education attended the meeting, and said they were pleased with the outcome of the vote.

“We feel very confident with our budget,” said BOE member Kate Symonds, adding that it will fully cover the year ahead. “We’re very proud of it.”

First Selectman Eric Epstein, who took office in November 2025, said he was relieved to have his first budget season behind him.

Epstein said he looks forward to tackling outstanding and upcoming projects, like Streetscape and sidewalk projects, to name a few.

Aly Morrissey
Reporter
Aly Morrissey joined LJMN in 2025 as a reporter and photographer for The Millerton News, covering local government, community life and the arts across northeastern Dutchess County and northwest Connecticut before moving into newsroom leadership. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, she began her journalism career in Boston, working in radio before joining the Boston Herald as an editorial assistant and City Desk reporter covering breaking news. Her career spans nearly two decades in journalism, communications and professional photography. A lifelong theater enthusiast, Aly spent several seasons as production photographer for Sharon Playhouse and now happily embraces her newest role as a budding stage mom.
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