Budget season in southeastern Connecticut traditionally means plenty of testy public debates, tensions among elected officials, and representatives of special interests facing off as each advocates for their piece of the municipal financial pie. Budget cuts, sometimes deep ones, are common. Anger among taxpayers also is common if escalating spending results in higher property tax bills.

This spring, however, budget season has been quiet, daresay, even peaceful.

The main reason for the relative calm is that residents of towns throughout the region are getting good news: their property tax bills will remain flat or even decrease. At a time when inflation is taking a huge bite out of household budgets as residents struggle with dramatic price increases for necessities such as gasoline and groceries, a shrinking tax bill means at least some financial peace of mind for those who pay property taxes.

In Stonington, a town once known for the ferocity of its annual budget fights, voters in April approved a $76.7 million budget that resulted in a .19 mill tax decrease. Very few Stonington voters were even motivated enough by the budget proposal to cast a ballot about it. Just 6 percent of voters turned out.

In Lyme, a budget was approved that kept the mill rate flat at 19.95 mills for the fifth consecutive year.

In other towns, officials are still reviewing budgets, but decreased or flat tax bills appear certain. In Groton, for example, the Town Council set a tax rate of 21.16 mills, which was reduced from last year’s rate of 22.4 mills. The Representative Town Meeting is now reviewing the $142.7 million proposed spending package.

In Waterford, the Representative Town Meeting is reviewing the Board of Finance’s $99.4 million budget that carries a .08 mill tax rate decrease.

In New London, the $98.7 million proposed budget would mean a 1.72 percent decrease in taxes, while in Norwich the City Council finalized a preliminary budget that would keep the tax rate flat there. A second budget hearing is scheduled in Norwich Monday and officials there said they would continue to strive to further reduce the spending plan.

Because taxpayers in both Norwich and New London have relatively much higher property tax bills than do taxpayers in many suburban towns, tax relief in those cities is especially welcome.

Among the reasons for this less contentious budget season is the existence of American Rescue Plan funds issued by the federal government to help mitigate the devastating impacts of the COVID19 pandemic. In Norwich, for example, the funds are helping pay for three police officers, a blight enforcement officer and a records clerk.

Some local officials have criticized the 2022 municipal budget process, saying officials were not focused enough on striving to hold the line or reduce public spending. When pandemic relief funds dry up, the budget process will be that much more painful, they contend.

While there may be logic to this argument, there are benefits to funding long-overdue positions and programs when money is available. Keeping tax rates flat or having them decrease is in the best interest of taxpayers throughout the region and that was achieved.

Given all the stresses of the pandemic and inflation that most residents are dealing with, we are grateful for a smooth and peaceful budget season.