Salisbury approves $21.6 million budget, cuts mill rate to 9.8

SALISBURY – Voters unanimously approved Salisbury’s $21.6 million combined municipal and education budget at a town meeting last week, paving the way for a lower property tax rate in the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Following the town meeting on May 13, the Board of Finance met and set the new mill rate at 9.8, down from the current 11.0 rate and among the lowest in Connecticut.

For homeowners, the lower mill rate will reduce annual property taxes. A home with a market value of $750,000 would see its tax bill fall from about $5,775 under the previous 11.0 mill rate to about $5,145 under the new 9.8 rate — a savings of roughly $630 annually.

Comptroller Joe Cleaveland said the lower rate was made possible due to several factors, including the recent revaluation that increased the value of the grand list, growth in the town’s surplus funds, and the decision to reduce the amount of reserves held.

At the town meeting, 22 people attended in person and seven online. All agenda items passed unanimously, 29-0.

The approved $21,630,267 spending plan includes a municipal budget of $9,617,825, an increase of $412,723, or 4.4%.

The Salisbury Central School budget was set at $7,213,515, an increase of $316,367, or 4.59%.

The Region One assessment, which primarily covers the cost of educating Salisbury students at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, totals $4,798,927, an increase of $17,834 or 0.37%.

Total education spending is $12,012,442, an increase of $334,201 or 2.86%.