Town of West Hartford, Connecticut
Your Taxpayer Receipt
Where your property tax dollars go — and what changed
FY 2026 Adopted → FY 2027 Proposed
Enter Your Assessed Values
FY26 Total Tax
$0
FY27 Total Tax
$0
Your Tax Increase
$0
Discretionary Portion
$0
How to read this receipt:
Contractual / Mandated = existing obligations the Town must pay: negotiated wages, pensions, health insurance, debt service on bonds already issued, utility and waste hauling contracts.
Discretionary / New Initiatives = new choices in this budget cycle: new software systems, new equipment purchases, new consulting engagements, expanded programming. Every number below is sourced from the official budget documents; citations appear inline and are collected at bottom.
| Department / Category | FY27 TaxYour share | YoY ChangeImpact on bill | ContractualMandated / fixed | DiscretionaryNew initiatives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOTALS |
Sources & Citations
1
The BOE roll-forward increase totals $14,088,737 (6.58%), driven by salary increases of $7.5M per collective bargaining agreements and medical expense increases of $5.0M (12.5% premium increase). The Superintendent's modifications add $62,784 in net new spending (special instruction positions offset by enrollment and support reductions), for a total expenditure increase of $14,151,521 (6.61%).
Superintendent Budget Presentation 2026-27.pdf, Slides 9-12
2
General Fund risk management expense increases $2,678,345 (10.3%), primarily from rising health care costs and an increase to the ADEC for the OPEB Trust Fund. The General Fund pension impact increases $726,754, reflecting the Police Officers' Association contract change (benefits eligibility from 25 to 20 years of service) offset by employee contribution rate increases in settled contracts.
ProposedBudgetFY2026-2027.pdf, Pages 2-7 through 2-8
3
Police wages increase $869,502 (4.8%) due to estimated merits. Operating expenses increase $91,985 (6.8%): software maintenance $9,650, new cellular devices $22,040, mobile device management software $3,000, new weapons equipment $44,850, Stalker radar system $7,000, and community events supplies $5,000.
ProposedBudgetFY2026-2027.pdf, Page 9-5
4
Fire Department operating expenses increase $187,067: new staffing software $45,844 (FirstDue), outside consulting $10,000, paramedic training $15,000, uniforms $38,000, vehicle maintenance $41,799, minor equipment $16,500, office expenses $16,401, station repairs $16,000, equipment maintenance $28,500, and fire/medical supplies $25,000; offset by a decrease in MDC hydrant costs.
ProposedBudgetFY2026-2027.pdf, Page 8-4
5
Public Works operating expenses increase $1,363,760: waste/recycling collection costs $985,862 (Covanta contract), vehicle/maintenance $111,700, software maintenance $73,435 (including AssetWorks asset management consulting at $60,000 — new in FY27 — plus subscription at $56,650 and UKG at $13,800), street maintenance $62,366, streetlight/sign costs $10,000, food waste containers $10,000 (new), and field maintenance $124,195.
ProposedBudgetFY2026-2027.pdf, Pages 11-4 & 11-6
6
Capital financing totals $19,668,805, an increase of $2,768,490 (16.4%) for both municipal and education services. Principal and interest on General Obligation bonds already issued total $19,853,805, with $19,553,805 funded via General Fund transfer and $300,000 from bond premiums. No CNRE contribution in FY27.
ProposedBudgetFY2026-2027.pdf, Pages 3-26 & Town Manager letter (p.3)
7
Leisure & Social Services increases $270,532 (6.1%). Discretionary items: new contactless registration software estimated at $10,000 for the recreation division, and a new senior lunch program increasing Special Events from $6,860 to $25,000 (+$18,140), offset by lunch payments and trust funds. Library increases $86,527 (2.1%), all contractual (merits and min wage).
ProposedBudgetFY2026-2027.pdf, Pages 13-5, 13-14 & 14-2
8
Community Development operating expenses increase $96,750: DEEP MS4 stormwater permit $50,000 (state mandate), building permit review consultants $35,000 (new), software $5,000, and Vision Zero vehicle usage $2,000 (new). IT operating increases of $111,655 are attributed to vendor contractual obligations and security enhancements across Information Technology ($24,000), Telecommunications ($20,000), and Information Systems ($121,715), offset by Rental/Leases savings of $54,060.
ProposedBudgetFY2026-2027.pdf, Pages 10-3, 5-4 & 5-5
9
Mill rates: FY26 real estate 44.78, FY27 proposed 47.69 (increase of 2.91 mills). Motor vehicle mill rate capped at 32.46 by the State of Connecticut and remains unchanged. Total budget: FY26 Adopted $367,732,066, FY27 Proposed $392,001,170 (+6.6%). Property tax revenue of $22,623,351 required.
BudgetinBriefOverviewProposedBudget2026-2027.pdf, Pages 1 & 3
10
Department-level FY26 Adopted and FY27 Proposed figures are from the Summary by Department table in the Budget in Brief, cross-referenced against the Town Manager's budget letter and individual department narratives in the Proposed Budget.
BudgetinBriefOverviewProposedBudget2026-2027.pdf, Page 4 (Summary by Department table)
Town-Wide Budget Overview
FY26 Adopted Budget
$367.7M
FY27 Proposed Budget
$392.0M
Total Increase
+$24.3M
+6.6%
Discretionary Portion
$335,658
1.4% of increase
Mill Rate Change
44.78 → 47.69
+2.91 mills (+6.5%)
| Department / Category | FY26 AdoptedBudget | FY27 ProposedBudget | YoY Change$ and % | ContractualMandated / fixed | DiscretionaryNew initiatives |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOTALS |