Greenwich BET budget guidelines anticipate 2.7 percent increase
“We are hoping for normalcy. We will know what normalcy will be after this pandemic in the next year or so and see how everything operates, whether it’s capital spending, how schools operate, how Town Hall operates and everything we know.” Michael Mason, BET Chair
GREENWICH — The Board of Estimate and Taxation unanimously approved guidelines for the 2021-22 budget Thursday.
They project an increase from the current $448 million budget to a spending plan of $460 million in 2021-22. The guidelines forecast a 1.74 percent increase in the town’s mill rate.
The forecast includes a 3 percent increase in town operational spending, equaling close to $1.5 million; and a 4.2 percent increase in operational spending for schools, close to $5.5 million.
Overall operational spending would increase by about 2.5 percent.
Capital project spending is projected to be in the area of $55 million.
The parameters are nonbinding, but indicate the level of spending finance board members are likely to approve.
BET Chair Michael Mason noted challenges ahead, given the ongoing coronavirus crisis and uncertain economic conditions.
“We are hoping for normalcy,” Mason said. “We will know what normalcy will be after this pandemic in the next year or so and see how everything operates, whether it’s capital spending, how schools operate, how Town Hall operates and everything we know.”
BET Vice Chair Karen Fassuliotis said the virus could still change conditions.
“The (guidelines) recognize we have a lot of unknowns going forward,” Fassuliotis said. “There is a lot of uncertainty with regard to COVID. We don’t know if we will have another shutdown. We don’t know what services will be affected going forward. There may be more need for some services and less need for other services.”
The guidelines were written by the BET Budget Committee, which was split over the final result until compromises were reached, including potential capital spending elevated from $40 million to $55 million.
Concerns still were expressed Thursday by members of the Democratic caucus on the BET, even though they voted in favor of the guidelines. BET member Beth Krumeich pointed out a study of special education services in town schools is taking place and parents of special education students have filed a complaint with the state.
“My concern is that we reflect that this is an area where the expenses are growing and we may not have allowed for that in the guidelines in a way which gives the Board of Education the sense we will support them if they need to increase this area,” Krumeich said.
Mason has said he is willing to work with the Board of Education on funding special education and the guidelines include a request that the Board of Education and superintendent make a presentation on special education costs and services as part of the February budget hearings.
BET member Miriam Kreuzer said she was concerned about not giving enough priority to capital spending, especially since last year’s plans had to be scaled back due to the pandemic with projects deferred to later years.
“When I look at the number of projects we had to put on hold last year and the addition of those in the pipeline originally for this year, that is a lot of wood to chop,” Kreuzer said. “And we know maintenance is of the utmost importance.”
Mason said he wants to see a return to sound long
range planning through the town’s Capital Improvement Projects rankings.
“I want to get back to that or else we’ll be making arbitrary decisions,” Mason said.
Superintendent of Schools Toni Jones is expected to unveil a proposed 2020-21 schools budget budget in November. It will be discussed at several public meetings before a vote is taken in December.
In late January, First Selectman Fred Camillo will present his budget to the BET, after which the Budget Committee will begin its hearings.
“I think this document does set up our important conversations for February and March,” BET member Leslie Moriarty, a member of the Budget Committee and the Democratic caucus leader, said, adding the BET is open to conversa
tions about the impact the budget will have on operations.
“At the end of the day, the budget that we approve represents our values,” Moriarty said. “It represents what we try to find in that balance between the costs for necessary services
and what those services may be. I think we as a board need to be open to listen to what those needs really are.”
Final vote will come before the Representative Town Meeting in May.