Darien Selectmen Approve Fiscal Year 2024 Budget

DARIEN, CT — The Darien Board of Selectmen this week unanimously approved a $51,268,400 town budget, which represents a 5.8 percent increase over the current year's spending plan of $48.4 million, according to The Darien Times.

The board also approved $3.7 million for the town's capital fund.

The Times noted that the proposed budget includes a $12.9 million debt service cost, which increased by $2.5 million because of the $103 million purchase of Great Island and the cost to renovate Darien's three elementary schools.

There is also money included for new town employees, The Times reported.

Notably, the selectmen decided to include funds for the hiring of one police officer. The Darien Police Department had requested two new hires for the first time in decades.

The Times said the selectmen would consider hiring the second officer if the department reaches it's full force capacity by the end of the year.

The Darien Board of Finance is slated to begin its review of the Board of Selectmen's budget and the Board of Education's spending plan on March 7.

The BOE's next meeting will be held on Feb. 14 when the board is scheduled to vote on the budget.

Recently, Superintendent of Darien Public Schools Dr. Alan Addley came back to the board with a revised budget that features $1.2 million in cuts.

The Representative Town Meeting will have the final say on the budgets.

Read more from The Darien Times