To determine affordability the Board of Finance must review the soundness and completeness of any proposed program or project for the reliability of the estimates as well as the financial suitability for all Darien residents. Projects which affect the safety of the community should be given the highest priority, followed by those which maintain the vitality of Darien’s school system. The Town should only fund those programs that have a lasting impact on the majority of the population over an extended period of time. Items which affect a small minority of residents should be funded either through user fees or public / private partnerships.

Tax rate increases should be justifiable to all residents, i.e., people should know what they are getting for their money. In most cases increases should not exceed the consumer price index (CPI) or average annual salary increases; tax rate increases which greatly outstrip these indices put an added strain on lower income people and those on fixed incomes. Lately tax increases have exceeded these benchmarks, and greater effort must be placed on containing government growth.