Transparency or Guesswork? Our Formal Questions on Pomfret’s Proposed Budget

We submitted this letter to the Pomfret Board of Finance to request clarification and additional details regarding the proposed FY 2026–2027 budget. While we recognize the effort involved in developing the town’s financial plan, our review identified several areas where greater transparency and supporting information are needed. These questions are intended to ensure that residents can fully understand how decisions are made, how funds are allocated, and what the true financial impact will be.

Read the full letter below:

When we followed up with the Board of Finance after their meeting regarding our letter, these were the responses received:

What makes this especially troubling is that our letter laid out clear, specific questions about the proposed budget—questions focused on transparency, methodology, revenue assumptions, and how key numbers were determined—yet none of those questions were actually answered.

Instead, the response we received avoided the substance entirely, offering no clarification, no supporting detail, and no meaningful engagement with the concerns raised. It wasn’t truly a response—it was a redirection. At the same time, the public is being actively encouraged to provide input on this very budget:

But how can residents offer informed input when the foundational questions about the budget remain unanswered? If detailed questions from elected officials are met with deflection, it raises a serious concern about whether transparency is being prioritized at all. Input only has value when people are given the information needed to understand what they’re being asked to weigh in on—and right now, that information is still missing.