Mayfield prepares truth-in-taxation outreach as town confronts lean budget

Staff (S1) presented budget worksheets and truth-in-taxation scenarios during the March 4 work meeting, telling the council that Mayfield has run a lean budget and lost revenue in recent years due to state changes.

"We're running on a very lean budget," S1 said, urging the council to prepare a clear presentation for residents about why the town seeks to restore previous tax percentages.

Why it matters: The town is approaching its fiscal-year planning window and must decide whether to initiate a truth-in-taxation process to recover revenue lost to state adjustments. A transparent public presentation is important because many local residents are on fixed incomes and may resist any perceived tax increase.

What the council discussed: Members agreed the town should hold a truth-in-taxation hearing in June for the FY2027 budget and to assemble visual materials showing five-year revenue impacts. They discussed contacting regional resources for a standard presentation and agreed staff should prepare calculators and examples to show residents what modest changes would mean per household.

Next steps: Staff will compile the presentation materials, incorporate concrete numbers, and schedule public outreach prior to the June hearing. The council noted that final budget adoption will be later in the summer but that outreach should start now to reduce confusion at public hearings.

Context: Council members said the town has borrowed from savings to cover operating shortfalls and that restoring prior tax percentages is a common approach for similar towns confronting state tax shifts.