The formal process for the Town of Glastonbury budget begins in September for the following July 1, which is earlier than most Connecticut towns. The Town Manager requests each department to submit the following information, as applicable:

• Summary of current year operations – revenues and expenditures.
• Trends, initiatives, and factors influencing each department’s budget.
• Successes and accomplishments as well as goals & objectives for the coming year.
• Executive Summary of semi-annual comprehensive department reports.
• Revenue and expenditure estimates, recommendations, and proposals with detailed supporting documentation.
• Two-year summary of projected Capital Outlay needs.
• Status report on Capital projects assigned to respective departments and divisions.
• Five-year summary of Capital project needs.
• Operating and maintenance statement for Capital projects.
• Summary of options and alternatives to spending requests.
• Additional information as applicable.

The preceding information is then the subject of a series of reviews involving the Town Manager, Finance Director, and respective department and division directors. Based on these reviews, which take place from mid fall to early January, the Town Manager develops a recommended Operating and Capital Program. The Operating budget is presented at the Annual Town Meeting in late January to the Town Council, Board of Finance and residents of Glastonbury. Budget proposals including all expenditures and revenues are then reviewed with the Board of Finance and Town Council in a series of workshops held in February and March. These workshops include public comment sessions.

The Board of Finance first forwards its recommendations to the Town Council in early February. In late February and early March, the Council conducts a series of workshops with respective town departments, which also includes public comment sessions. A final budget public hearing is held in late March, giving residents further opportunity to comment on the budget. Following the public hearing, the Town Council makes their recommendations regarding the budget and votes for its adoption. The newly adopted budget is effective July 1st of that year.

The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is recommended by the Town Manager in accordance with the Capital Improvement Program Criteria recommended by the Board of Finance, and then approved by the Town Council.  The Town Manager presents the multi-year CIP at a joint workshop meeting of the Council, Board of Finance, and Board of Education in mid January. This includes a presentation on recommended project priorities and a financing plan with various options to fund the projects. The Capital budget is then reviewed in detail by the Board of Finance and Council in a series of workshops held in February and March. Each workshop provides the opportunity for public comment. The adopted Capital budget is presented along with the Operating budget at the final budget hearing in mid to late March.

All revenue and expenditure accounts are formally reviewed on a monthly basis with the Board of Finance. This includes Operating and Capital accounts. Additionally, the Town Manager presents a Capital Program status report to the Council on a periodic basis throughout the year. The Council also receives a quarterly summary of expenditures and transfers and revenues and transfers.

Click here for more information on the Current Mill Rate, including how it's calculated and the effect the budget has on the mill rate.

For more information on how your taxes are calculated, click here.