The Bloomfield Community Dispatch

Paying More for Less in Bloomfield: Part 5 - The Mill Rate Mirage and the Town Manager's Foundational Failures By Peter C. Frank Editor-in-Chief, the Bloomfield Community Dispatch (Did you miss the previous installment? Catch up on Part 4 of the series here .) AI-generated satirical cartoon (Gemini) depicting a diverse, working-class group of Bloomfield homeowners, looking bewildered, at a giant, complex maze labeled "FY2027 Budget." At the entrance, the Town Manager is confidently pointing the way using a blueprint that is entirely blank on one side and upside down. Behind him, he is actively ignoring a clear, paved shortcut labeled "Energy Savings & Grant Revenue" while demanding the residents hand over their wallets to enter the maze. BLOOMFIELD, CT - May 29, 2026 — When the Town Council adopted the $118.4 million FY2027 budget, the administration touted a victory for the taxpayers: a 3.7% reduction in the local mill rate. On paper, a dropp...