The Board of Finance (BOF) has significantly improved Ridgefield’s financial position over the last four years. The improvements were delivered not in a period of economic calm, but rather in a period of historic economic adversity as the nation emerged from the Great Recession with years of higher than normal unemployment, higher foreclosure rates, lower home sales and stagnant income growth. In an era of normal economic conditions, BOF’s performance would have been impressive; given the actual economic circumstances of the past four years, it was practically stunning. BOF’s outstanding performance resulted from the majority leadership of Dave Ulmer, Jessica Mancini and Paul Sutherland. Reelect this team this November to keep the improvements coming for four more years.
Dave Ulmer, a founder of Jet Blue, has served on BOF for 12 years, the last four as Chairman. A thought leader and financial expert relied upon by EVERY town official, regardless of party, Dave’s leadership sets the direction for unanimous decision-making. Jessica Mancini is a Ridgefield native, small business entrepreneur and mother of three. Paul Sutherland is a four-year member of BOF and a four-year member of the Board of Education, who advocated for schools on both the BOE and the BOF—particularly when, under past Republican majorities, the BOF cut deep.
This BOF team delivers success:
- Maintained the town’s AAA bond credit rating by keeping tax rates stable and paying down outstanding debt each year
- Invested in capital projects to maintain town infrastructure — buildings, vehicles, library, etc.
- Saved millions of dollars in future interest costs by moving road maintenance from a bonded capital expense into the operating budget
- Invested operating dollars in our town to maintain and enhance our excellent public schools as well as vital town services
- Served the needs of all of our residents, young, old by keeping mill rate increases to a minimum
- Delivered zero % increase to the mill rate this year
Our team has years in finance, business, the school system, the community and on BOF. They require no “ramp up” or learning curve. They work in an inclusive and bipartisan way to get things done. In this most recent budget cycle, the BOF passed the operating budgets of the town and schools unanimously after making adjustments to which every BOF member agreed. They listen and base their decisions on facts, not on ideology. The results speak for themselves:
- 2012: Supported the town’s $5 million capital contribution for the Ridgefield Library expansion.
- 2012-13: Returned a multimillion dollar CL&P refund to Ridgefield taxpayers, resulting in a 1.15% decrease in the mill rate.
- 2015: Kept the mill rate flat without forcing the schools to cut existing programs, and while substantially increasing the roads budget to repair severe winter damage.
Learn more on Facebook (Ulmer, Mancini, and Sutherland for BOF) and at ridgefielddems.org. Please keep the BOF team that delivered these successes. Vote Ulmer, Sutherland and Mancini on November 3rd.
Steve Zemo, the author, is a Democratic candidate for Board of Selectmen. The Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee supplies this column.