𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: I’ve sent the follow-up email today to town officials regarding the May 28 referendum, along with the supporting attachments. I’ll continue to keep the community informed every step of the way.

“Dear Mr. Schwapp, Attorney Crumbie, Ms. Posniak, and Members of the Bloomfield Town Council,

I am writing to follow up on my previous correspondence regarding the legality and accuracy of the May 28, 2025, budget referendum ballot question.

To support the concerns raised, I am including the following documentation:

The FY2026 Adopted Budget Book, dated May 6, 2025, and signed by Town Manager Schwapp, which clearly identifies the adopted budget total as $113,619,271.

A screenshot from the Town of Bloomfield’s official website, showing both the adopted and recommended budget documents, confirming the $113.6 million figure.

An excerpt from Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-398, which outlines the legal requirement for truthful public financial reporting and the penalties for knowingly providing false or misleading information.

Despite this clearly documented figure of $113.6 million, the referendum ballot question presented to voters cited a budget of $117 million. This is not a minor discrepancy — it is a material misrepresentation that misled voters and raises serious concerns about the integrity of the referendum process.

In addition, as required by state law, the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) must certify the adopted budget within 30 days of its adoption, or no later than July 1, 2025. I am requesting clarification on whether this certification has already been filed. If it has, I respectfully request a copy. If it has not yet been submitted, I ask that a copy be provided to me as soon as it is filed.

Based on the evidence presented, it is my position that the ballot question was inaccurate and did not reflect the adopted budget approved by the Town Council. I am once again respectfully requesting that the Town acknowledge this error and take immediate corrective action — including scheduling a new referendum with the correct budget amount presented to voters.

As stated in my previous letter, I am requesting a written response by Monday, June 9, 2025. That deadline still stands, and I expect a response that addresses the concerns and documentation presented.

I submit this in good faith and with the expectation that town officials will act with transparency, accountability, and integrity. The residents of Bloomfield deserve nothing less.

Sincerely,

Rickford Kirton

Chair, Citizens for a Responsible Bloomfield Budget”