Tax Increase Alert Budget 2025 Part One

Laura Devlin
Feb 24
2 min read

Updated: Apr 28

Dear Fairfielders,

Fairfield Budget Hearings Begin - With Tax Hikes

Budget hearings kick off this morning, but did you know the town’s financial budget document was only made public Saturday morning? And today, public comment begins—giving residents their first chance to weigh in on changes that could impact every taxpayer in Fairfield.

Despite cutting $4 million from the Board of Education budget, First Selectman Gerber is still proposing a 3% spending increase, setting Fairfield up for yet another tax hike. The real education cut runs even deeper—$5 million—as Gerber shifts $1 million in capital projects to long-term debt, adding interest payments to what were originally operating expenses.

Meanwhile, the budget document itself has become more difficult to navigate, with the administration inexplicably removing the table of contents and departmental organizational charts. Was this an oversight, or a deliberate effort to obscure key details? It certainly contradicts the First Selectman’s stated commitment to transparency, particularly when there have been so many questions about personnel transfers, removals, and adds.

Other concerning aspects of this budget:

Revenue projections prematurely include programs not yet approved
Significant salary increases in the First Selectman’s office; including a $40,000 increase for the Chief Operating Officer
Departmental changes without public notice or clarity

Stay tuned for a deeper dive into this budget and what it means for Fairfield taxpayers. In the meantime, we encourage you to tune into the Budget Hearings, which begin today at 10:00 AM.

2025-2026 BUDGET PROPOSAL

2025-2026 BUDGET HEARING SCHEDULE

WATCH BOS BUDGET HEARING #1

EMAIL THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN (BOS)

SPEED CAMERAS/FINES COMING SOON TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU

PUBLIC NOTICE: SPEED CAMERAS IN SCHOOL ZONES

Did you know the Gerber administration is budgeting $900,000 in new revenue from a speed camera proposal for Fairfield? This major initiative could impact residents, yet many in our community are unaware that the proposal to allow the cameras is being voted on tonight by the Representative Town Meeting (RTM).

The proposal if passed, will pave the way for installing automated speed cameras in school zones and pedestrian safety areas to catch drivers exceeding the speed limit.

First violation: Warning
Second violation: $50 fine
Additional violations: $75 fine

There has been no broad public communication from the First Selectman regarding this initiative, yet the projected revenue from speed cameras has already been incorporated into the budget—even though no vote has been taken on the proposal. It appears that the outcome is being predetermined under one-party rule, with the administration relying on the unquestioning support of RTM Democrats to push this measure through as a guaranteed revenue source.

While the initiative to address speeding drivers might be a good one - it's important that the implementation details, including the associated revenue, are transparent.

Attend the RTM meeting tonight or email your representatives to share your thoughts. Information regarding how to attend or watch the meeting live can be found on the meeting agenda by clicking here.