TOWN FINANCES
2011/2012 Budget
Following votes on the town budget by the Boards of Selectmen and Finance, the RTM has adopted the Town's budget. The RTM adopted budget contains an adjusted mill rate of 22.47 per thousand assessed value.

The Town maintains the coveted AAA Rating, which helped us receive low interest rates-an average of 3.3% over 20 years. Low interest rates help the Town pay less on bonded projects. The Town's general surplus fund increased by more than $2 million at the end of the 2009-10 fiscal year, due to savings by town departments. Projections indicate that FY 2010/11 will also end with a $1 million surplus.

The First Selectman's 2011-12 budget presented in February focused on keeping tax increases moderate and a commitment to maintain the strong AAA financial condition of our town. The Town completed an independent operations audit which concluded "town staff levels are very lean" and "town departments are thin."

REVALUATION 2010
60% of Homeowners Will See Small Decreases in Tax Bills
Municipal Valuation Services, Inc., a local Fairfield firm, has completed the state mandated real estate revaluation of all Fairfield homes and businesses and has sent notices to residents and business owners. The Tax Assessor's Office has provided helpful information on the town's website regarding the revaluation, including the steps to take if owners are not satisfied with the revaluation company's assessments.

Although the assessment of one's home or business is completely separate from the town's budget, assessments will either increase or decrease house taxes depending on if individual houses change in value below or above 85% of their old assessment. Fortunately for 60% of Fairfield's homeowners, the decrease in assessment will result in some reduction in tax bills.

TOWN OPERATIONAL AUDIT
The Town of Fairfield hired Matrix Consulting Group to perform an operational town audit on town departments and their functions. The audit was presented to the Boards of Selectmen and Finance in January.

The Town retained this independent firm to conduct a study of its operations and recommend any actions that may improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our processes as well as achieve measurable cost savings. The Town last had such an audit performed in the 1990's. In conjunction with the town operational audit, the Selectmen will review and consider recommendations made by Matrix.

SCHOOLS
Fairfield prides itself on having a very strong education system. All children receive a quality education in safe, well-built schools. The First Selectman's Office continues to support school priorities and resources that help deliver top-quality services along with enhancements to early childhood education, technology and ongoing infrastructure maintenance.

The Fairfield Woods Building Committee is moving forward to resolve space needs in the Town's middle schools for the next several years. The plan includes up to twelve classrooms and associated space needed for the next decade. More information can be obtained from the Fairfield Woods Building Committee page on the town web site.

The Town is competing on a vital project to renovate and improve Stratfield Elementary School. The Building Committee is improving space needs and replacing old infrastructure systems, which date back over 40 years old. More information can be obtained at www.fairfieldct.org/stratfield.htm.

With large construction projects behind us, the Board of Selectmen continues to focus on necessary maintenance upgrades at elementary schools for the next several years. Two beautiful new classroom annexes opened at Osborn Hill and Sherman Elementary Schools to solve overcrowding. In addition, the Board of Education has requested that Town proceed on a project to perform limited core upgrades and renovations to Sherman School. The goal is to complete all essential work by Autumn, 2011. The maintenance and installations of new windows are proposed at FLHS while new roofs are needed at FWHS. FLHS will need to replace about 163 windows. The replacement of FWHS's roofs will cover about 300,000 square feet and will be phased over the next four years. The roof had been installed in 1991.

SENIOR CITIZEN AND DISABLED PERSONS TAX RELIEF
We are very pleased that many Fairfield senior citizens and disabled persons continue to apply for and receive the significantly expanded tax relief programs which will help our most vulnerable senior citizens remain in their homes. The Tax Relief Program is the most generous and widespread in Connecticut and used as a model by other municipalities. Close to $3 million is given out to senior citizens in tax relief every year. Last year, additional credits were approved to help about 1600 senior citizen households. Information is available in the First Selectman's Office or in the Tax Assessor's Office (1st floor, Old Town Hall).

Seniors and disabled persons can apply annually for tax relief each February to mid-May at the Tax Assessor's Office. Applicants must be 65 years old. For more information, call 256-3110.

SENIOR AND SOCIAL SERVICES
In an effort to increase efficiency and save taxpayer dollars, while improving services, the Senior and Social/Human Services departments have been combined into one department. The Senior Center Director, Claire Grace, is the Director of Senior and Human Services who oversees all senior and social issues. Our social services offices, including Persons with Disabilities, are located at the Senior Center on Mona Terrace. For information, such as heating assistance programs or questions, please call 256-3166.

SENIOR CITIZEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The Town is very proud of the senior affordable housing at the former Washington Park site on Villa Avenue. The site is an important and necessary addition to our community. Our congratulations go out to Mutual Housing, the Town's partner, and the many individuals, organizations and programs that contributed to the success of the project. For a List of Elderly and Disabled Housing Providers and Information/Services, go to www.fairfieldct.org/ced-elderly.htm.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Beautifying Downtown Fairfield
We are very pleased with the completion of a streetscape and beautification improvements program encompassing the area from Sherman Green to Sanford Street to Unquowa Road. A $450,000 state STEAP grant allowed the Town to work toward its long-term goal of creating an overall plan to enhance the beautification and economic vitality of the downtown corridor and give it a more aesthetically pleasing and more unified look.

The Town coordinated efforts with the Fairfield Garden Club which has generously donated flower beds at Sherman Green. The Town also appreciates the Sasqua Garden Club's $10,000 donation for the purchase and installation of elm and flowering cherry trees at the end of Sanford Street near the train station. The Town replaced the chain link fence at the corner of Sanford and Carter Henry Drive which had been a visual eyesore to visitors and replaced it new sidewalks. Some of the parking on Sanford Street was realigned and new Victorian style lampposts have been put up. Elm trees and a rain garden are being planted near the corner of Sanford and Carter Henry Drive. Lovely flower baskets now hang along lampposts on Post Road.

Whole Foods
The opening of a new Whole Foods store is scheduled for June. The store is built at the former Handy & Harman site in the Grasmere area. The environmentally-friendly company is installing new sidewalks along Kings Highway East and Grasmere Avenue making this revitalized area, which is adjacent to the new train station, even more accessible and pedestrian-friendly.

Third Train Station
The historic third train station will be completed in Autumn 2011. The train station and commuter parking will open November. This will be the first Metro-North train station to open along the coast in about 50 years.

Nine town bodies and civic organizations, including the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, RTM, Town Plan and Zoning Commission, Shellfish Commission, Fairfield Economic Development Commission, Fairfield Parking Authority, Fairfield Chamber of Commerce and the Fairfield Board of Realtors support and approved First Selectman Flatto's plan for revitalizing the former steel foundry and brownfield, known as the Bullard's site, turning the dirty unused site into a third commuter train station, parking facility, and proposed office park and open space greenbelt.

The State Bond Commission unanimously approved $19.4 million of state bond funding to the Town to complete all work. The State's contractors have completed their scope of work, which included constructing train platforms and an access bridge from the Kings Highway East north side of the train tracks onto the private site south of the tracks. The Town has completed 75% of work on the public parking and construction area. Thanks to a federal grant, offsite work is being completed at over a dozen area intersections and roads, including new traffic installations, road paving and safety improvements to the rotary at exit 24.

Benefits of the New Train Station:
Our community, residents, the Governor, and federal and state delegation from both sides of the aisle have been solidly behind this smart growth, brownfield revitalization and commuter parking solution. The project will provide new grand list town income and positively impact the entire Kings Highway East and Commerce Drive areas. 2000 commuters will be able to park at this new ADA-accessible train station.

This project improves Fairfield's quality of life in many ways:

• thousands of commuters no longer have to wait years to obtain a train parking pass;
• the new station will offer full ADA accessibility;
• a catalyst for positive economic development is being created;
• local jobs boost the State's economy;
• the neglected site will finally be environmentally safe;
• long over-due traffic safety and road improvements will be completed;
• surrounding house values should remain protected;
• less vehicles on roads reduce emissions; and
• a new 8 acre open space park will be created at this former foundry site.

PENFIELD PAVILION
The Town is very pleased the final phase of this rehabilitation project for Penfield Pavilion will soon be complete. The pavilion was in dire need of major improvements that had not been made in decades. Phase II involves the complete renovation of the Middle and West Wings of the building. The project meets both flood elevation and ADA compliance requirements. The Pavilion will be reopened and completed by July, 2011.

FAIRFIELD LAUNCHES VOLUNTEER BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PLANNING STUDY COMMITTEE
The Fairfield Board of Selectmen launched an Advisory Committee to perform a Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Study. The Committee was formed after a group of local citizens, with the help of the Greater Bridgeport Regional Planning Agency (GBRPA), recommended the Town perform a cost free study on the possibility of more access for bicyclists and pedestrians and the promotion of traffic safety and safe routes. The Committee completed a study using a summary of the results of a recent bike/pedestrian survey. We appreciate their thoughtful and helpful responses. The Committee consists of volunteer residents and town officials.

This cost free study will play an integral role in our community's long-term goals of increasing traffic safety, being more pedestrian friendly, and reducing green house emissions. The Committee successfully held a public forum to present the study's findings and to seek further input from the public.

FAIRFIELD CARES TASK FORCE
In 2009, First Selectman Ken Flatto launched a volunteer town-wide alcohol abuse prevention coalition, "Fairfield Cares Task Force on Alcohol and Health" to seek to address and raise awareness about alcohol abuse and over drinking in our community. The Task Force, which is comprised of representatives from the business, medical, social services, clergy, town and school communities, aims to address the issue of abuse with educational materials and meetings, awareness programs and periodic surveys. Positive Directions is using a state grant to survey needs and develop new initiatives. The Task Force will be providing educational materials to the public and programs. For more information, please contact Lauren Lanham in the First Selectman's Office at 256-3030.

TREE CITY USA-STATE GRANT ENHANCES TOWN'S QUALITY OF LIFE
For the sixth time, the Town of Fairfield, which has been designated "Tree City USA" has received the "America the Beautiful Grant" from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection's Forestry Division. This state grant helped our community continue to create a forest plan that will guide the effective management of town-owned trees for the benefit of the public and to otherwise advance the Town's ongoing community forestry program. For more information on the Town's Forestry Committee, go to www.fairfieldct.org/forestry.htm.

HISTORIC FAIRFIELD
As the fourth oldest town in Connecticut, Fairfield continues to honor its rich history in many ways. Upon receiving a state grant in 2008 from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, the Town surveyed and inventoried 155 historic homes. This information has been added to the Fairfield Museum and History Center's Library and is accessible to the public.

Fairfield has created a database of over 1000 addresses, color photographs and descriptions of properties in town that have historical and architectural significance. The new town historic properties database is accessible to the public via the internet by going to www.fairfieldct.org/historic or by going to the town website www.fairfieldct.org.

First Selectman Ken Flatto said, "The town is pleased to be able to make this historical and architectural information readily available to interested citizens and hopes that this new accessibility will give town officials and residents alike the proper tools to make informed decisions with the interest of preservation in mind."

GOING GREEN
Clean energy and conservation are paramount issues to the First Selectman and other town officials who have championed and supported dozens of initiatives to promote environmental health while cutting municipal spending in Fairfield. Through its comprehensive energy management program, the Town has reduced electricity consumption and saved citizens significant dollars in utility costs.

The Town's commitment to clean energy is reflected in our strong leadership on environmental health issues. The Town is helping save energy, money and the environment through several important initiatives. Our Administration has made it a priority to save hundreds of open spaces throughout town from being developed. These open spaces, which are both passive and active, are enjoyed by residents of all ages. In addition, the Town became an early member of the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, which seeks to address global warming on the local level. In 2005, Fairfield became the first municipality in Fairfield County to commit to the 20% by 2010 Clean Energy Campaign. Fairfield's Clean Energy Task Force has done a superb job. The campaign seeks to have 20 percent of Connecticut's electricity come from clean sources, like solar and wind. The Town has obtained grants to reduce emissions from school buses and to clean waters in Long Island Sound. In March 2006, the EPA presented the Town with a $369,000 grant for the placement of new controls in all existing school buses that cut 90% of fuel emissions that cause cancer and respiratory problems. In 2009, the Town was awarded a $545,100 federal grant to make energy efficient improvements. Each year, the Town celebrates Earth Day to highlight green initiatives. The Town has a very active Clean Energy Task Force and Earth Day Committee, made up of compassionate volunteer residents.

FAIRFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES:
The First Selectman has implemented the following important goals as a means to keep our residential areas safe and protected.

1. All Fairfield neighborhoods shall receive the best in town public safety operations 24/7 to protect the safety, peace and tranquility which residents deserve.
2. Open spaces and parks enhance quality of life and must be preserved and expanded at every opportunity.
3. Historic community landmarks and homes are priceless and should be valued and preserved by all possible means, including historic trust designation where possible.
4. The residential character of the town must be maintained. Residents are guardians of our neighborhoods and we appreciate homeowner efforts.
5. Property that becomes blighted must be cleaned, as required by a new ordinance.

CONSTITUENTS' CONCERNS DAY
Constituents' Concerns Day takes place every other month for constituents who want to meet with the First Selectman one-on-one to share ideas or discuss any concerns. Anyone wishing to make an appointment should call Jennifer Carpenter or contact Constituents' Concerns Coordinator Lauren Lanham at 256-3030.

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