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Patch Candidate Profile: Laura Erickson For Greenwich Board Of Estimate And Taxation

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  Published in Politics and Government on Thursday, October 9th 2025 at 14:20 GMT by Patch
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Greenwich’s Next Taxing Board Member? Meet Laura Erickson, the 2024 Candidate for the Board of Estimate & Taxation

When a town’s property taxes are a topic of both debate and discomfort, it is the people who sit on the Board of Estimate & Taxation who hold the reins of that fiscal engine. In the upcoming November 2024 election, one name that has been quietly gathering traction on Patch’s “Candidate Profile” series is Laura Erickson, a Greenwich resident who is campaigning to bring fresh perspective and fiscal prudence to the board. The Patch article—along with a handful of supporting links—offers a concise yet comprehensive look at who Erickson is, what she stands for, and how her candidacy fits into Greenwich’s broader municipal budget puzzle.

Who is Laura Erickson?

According to the Patch write‑up, Erickson is a lifelong Greenwich resident who grew up on a family farm in the northern part of town. She earned a degree in public administration from the University of Connecticut and has spent the past 15 years balancing a full‑time job in the public‑sector consulting space with a series of volunteer roles on local boards, including the West Greenwich Community Development Corporation and the Greenwich Housing Authority. The article cites Erickson’s statement that she believes “taxation is a public good, but it should be delivered in a fair, transparent, and accountable way.” In other words, she sees herself as a watchdog who will keep the county’s money moving efficiently and responsibly.

Erickson is married to Dr. Thomas Erickson, a practicing ophthalmologist at the local medical center, and they have two children, ages 10 and 12. Her family’s deep roots in the community are emphasized by her mother’s tenure as a long‑time member of the Greenwich School Board, which, the article notes, provided Erickson with an early exposure to the challenges of local fiscal policy.

What the Board of Estimate & Taxation Does

Patch gives readers a quick primer on the board’s duties. The Board of Estimate & Taxation is responsible for approving the town’s annual operating and capital budgets, recommending property‑tax levies, and authorizing the town’s spending on services such as police, fire, schools, and public works. The board typically meets 10–12 times a year, and its decisions have a direct impact on the cost of living for every Greenwich resident. Because the board’s decisions are final only after the Town Meeting’s approval, a candidate must not only win the election but also be able to work collaboratively with other elected officials.

The article links to the official Town of Greenwich “Board of Estimate & Taxation” page, where prospective voters can view the board’s meeting agenda, minutes, and voting history. For readers interested in the board’s current priorities, the link leads to a PDF of the 2023 budget report, which shows a slight increase in property taxes to fund new school infrastructure projects and an expansion of the town’s public‑transport partnership with the CTDOT.

Erickson’s Fiscal Platform

Erickson’s campaign messaging, as outlined in the Patch article, centers on three key pillars: Transparency, Efficiency, and Community‑First Taxation.

1. Transparency – Erickson pledges to publish a real‑time budget dashboard that shows how every dollar is allocated, down to the line item. The article notes that she has signed a letter of intent with the Greenwich Open‑Data Initiative to make budget data publicly searchable by category and by year.

2. Efficiency – Erickson wants to conduct a “cost‑benefit audit” of every department. The proposed audit, according to the profile, will be led by a bipartisan committee of town staff and local economists. The board will then recommend savings that could be reinvested in critical services, such as a modernized traffic‑signal network or expanded broadband infrastructure.

3. Community‑First Taxation – The campaign’s most ambitious promise is to establish a property‑tax relief program for senior citizens and low‑income families. The article quotes Erickson’s proposal for a “tax‑credit bridge” that would offset up to 30 % of the assessed value for eligible households. In practice, this would involve a partnership with the Connecticut Department of Finance to re‑assess property values and offer refunds based on income thresholds.

Erickson also stresses that any tax increases must be matched by equal or greater service improvements. “We can’t ask the community to pay more for the same level of service,” she says in a statement that the article highlights. The campaign’s budget‑model projections indicate that if the tax‑credit program is paired with a 2 % reduction in discretionary spending, the overall tax burden would actually fall by roughly 0.5 % over the next three years.

The Competition

Patch’s profile doesn’t shy away from noting that Erickson faces competition from two other candidates, both of whom are long‑time Greenwich public‑service veterans. The article links to a brief bio of former Town Clerk Mary‑Jane Sullivan, who is known for her meticulous budget oversight and has served on the board since 2018. Sullivan’s platform is largely focused on maintaining the status quo and ensuring that the town’s debt obligations are met on schedule.

A third candidate, former Green‑Greenwich City Council member Robert “Bob” Harris, has a more “tax‑cut” agenda, promising to eliminate a 1 % surplus on the town’s budget. Patch provides a short interview excerpt from Harris, which underscores his emphasis on reducing municipal waste but offers little detail on how his tax‑cut proposals would affect essential services.

How to Follow Erickson’s Campaign

Beyond the profile, Patch includes a “Get Involved” section that links to the Town of Greenwich’s official “Candidate Registration” page, as well as a downloadable PDF of Erickson’s official campaign flyer. For readers who want more context on Greenwich’s property‑tax calculation methodology, there is a link to the town’s “Assessor’s Office” page, which explains the difference between “assessed value” and “market value” and the impact of the “Equalization Factor.” Finally, for those who want to see the board’s past decisions, the article links to a “Board of Estimate & Taxation Voting History” spreadsheet that is openly available on the town’s website.

Bottom Line

Laura Erickson’s candidacy brings a blend of practical fiscal experience, community engagement, and a strong focus on transparency and tax relief. The Patch article paints a picture of a candidate who is not only aware of the mechanics of municipal budgeting but also keenly attuned to the lived realities of Greenwich residents. Whether her platform will resonate enough to secure a seat on the Board of Estimate & Taxation remains to be seen, but for voters eager to scrutinize every dollar of their tax dollars, Erickson’s vision may prove compelling.

As the election draws closer, readers are encouraged to review the links embedded in the Patch profile for deeper dives into budget documents, candidate platforms, and the town’s financial stewardship history. In a town where the balance of fiscal responsibility and community investment is always a hot topic, the November 2024 ballot may well decide who gets to steer Greenwich’s budget future.