Council splits on budget, sets June 2 referendum

Town Council · Meeting of May 12, 2026

EAST HAMPTON — The East Hampton Town Council voted to send a split budget package to a June 2 referendum. The council approved a $20,301,504 general government budget 6-1, with Ted Hintz, Jr. opposed, and a $40,150,937 Board of Education budget 5-2, with Hintz and Tim Feegel against. A $2,439,530 Capital Improvements Plan also passed 5-2.

Town Manager David Cox said the package sets the mill rate at $28.67. Members voted 7-0 to move a $375,000 Middle School parking lot paving appropriation onto the referendum ballot rather than leaving it solely to a town meeting vote, then adopted the amended resolution 5-2. The council also sent a draft ordinance making sewer hookups voluntary to a May 26 public hearing and adopted a "Pollinator Friendly Community" resolution unanimously.

Council member Karen Wanat said "responsible budgeting also requires investment," while Hintz countered, "a flat budget is a cut because of inflation."

In the full story:

• The complete report — 952 words

Source: the Town Council meeting of May 12, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.

The Full Article

EAST HAMPTON — May 12, 2026 — The East Hampton Town Council voted 6-1 Tuesday to approve a $20.3 million general government budget and 5-2 to approve a $40.15 million Board of Education budget, sending both to a townwide referendum scheduled for June 2.

Chairman Dean Markham presided over a meeting that drew more than two dozen residents, many urging a zero-increase budget because of rising property revaluations. The council also voted 5-2 to approve a $2,439,530 Capital Improvements Plan and voted unanimously, 7-0, to add a $375,000 Middle School parking lot paving appropriation directly to the June 2 referendum ballot rather than handling it only through a town meeting vote.

The Full Story

Town Manager David Cox told the council the proposed general government budget of $20,301,504 reflects roughly $82,655 in reductions identified in his memo to the council, including cutting the remaining half of a planned police officer position, trimming computer equipment purchases and eliminating one brush disposal run at the transfer station. Cox said the changes, combined with new one-time state aid, would set the townwide mill rate at $28.67. The motion, made by Vice Chairman Jack Solomon and seconded by Ted Hintz, Jr., passed 6-1, with Hintz voting no.

"From the state, that the mill rate would be $28.67."

[00:52:45] — Town Manager David Cox

The Board of Education budget of $40,150,937, a 3.58 percent increase, incorporates $278,438 in supplemental and temporary state education aid approved in the legislature's Senate Bill 1 and a related criminal justice bill. The superintendent told the council the aid had to be applied as a reduction to the Board of Education's bottom line rather than as town revenue, which artificially lowers the published increase; without the aid, he said, the comparable increase would be closer to 4.94 percent. Joelyn Leon moved and Richard Knotek seconded the $40,150,937 figure, which passed 5-2, with Hintz and Tim Feegel opposed. The same 5-2 split, with Solomon moving and Karen Wanat seconding, approved the $2,439,530 Capital Improvements Plan recommended by the Board of Finance.

The council then voted 7-0 to set the budget town meeting for May 26 and the referendum for June 2, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Town Hall. During debate, Wanat defended the spending plan against calls for a flat budget.

"I truly believe that responsible budgeting also requires investment, and public education is an investment."

[01:17:31] — Karen Wanat, council member

Hintz pushed back, arguing residents facing their own household cuts should not be asked to accept town spending increases.

"A flat budget is a cut because of inflation. You don't get a raise. Did your income get cut?"

[01:20:35] — Ted Hintz, Jr., council member

On the Middle School paving project, the council initially moved to approve a $375,000 additional appropriation resolution and set a May 26 town meeting date, but amended the measure on a 7-0 vote so the $375,000 transfer would instead appear as a separate question on the June 2 referendum ballot, giving all voters a direct say rather than only those attending the town meeting. The amended resolution then passed 5-2, with Hintz and Feegel again dissenting. Separately, the council voted 7-0 to send a draft ordinance amending Chapter 264 of the town code, which would make sewer hookups voluntary in most cases, to a public hearing at the May 26 council meeting. Members took no action on a related concept ordinance to limit sewer expansion, noting the Water Pollution Control Authority already has a six-month moratorium underway. The council also adopted, 7-0, a resolution declaring East Hampton a "Pollinator Friendly Community," presented by Andrea Simmons of the Clean Energy Task Force's sustainability subcommittee.

Why It Matters

The budget votes send East Hampton's full FY2026-27 spending plan, roughly $62.9 million combined across general government and schools, to voters at the June 2 referendum, with the townwide mill rate set at $28.67. Residents who want a say on the separate $375,000 Middle School parking lot paving appropriation will now vote on it as a referendum question the same day, rather than only at the May 26 town meeting. The sewer ordinance change heading to a May 26 public hearing would end mandatory sewer hookups for existing homes within the service area, a shift pushed by residents who said prior requirements were unfair to property owners near expanding sewer lines.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Adoption of the May 12 agenda Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approval of April 28, 2026 regular meeting minutes, amended to change "integrity" to "credibility" in Mallory Hill-Baker's comment Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Resolution declaring East Hampton a Pollinator Friendly Community Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Fiscal Year 2026/2027 Town General Government budget, $20,301,504 Tally: For: 6, Against: 1, Abstain: 0, Total: 7

- Vote: Fiscal Year 2026/2027 Board of Education budget, $40,150,937 Tally: For: 5, Against: 2, Abstain: 0, Total: 7

- Vote: Fiscal Year 2026/2027 Capital Improvements Plan, $2,439,530 Tally: For: 5, Against: 2, Abstain: 0, Total: 7

- Vote: Setting Town Meeting for May 26 and budget Referendum for June 2 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Amendment adding the $375,000 Middle School paving appropriation as a question on the June 2 referendum Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Resolution approving the $375,000 Middle School paving additional appropriation, as amended Tally: For: 5, Against: 2, Abstain: 0, Total: 7

- Vote: Sending Chapter 264 sewer use ordinance to public hearing on May 26 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Tax refunds totaling $730.31 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Entering executive session for attorney-client discussion of threatened litigation Tally: Approved unanimously

Source

Town of East Hampton Connecticut: Town Council meeting, May 12, 2026