Darien Selectmen Recommend $53.6M Town Budget

DARIEN, CT — The Darien Board of Selectmen last week recommended a $53.6 million town budget for fiscal year 2024-2025, which represents a 5.1 percent increase over the current year's spending plan.

The proposed budget features a general operating fund of $40.9 million and $12.5 million for debt service. There is also $4.3 million for capital projects.

"These are the expenditures that we, as a board, collectively think are necessary to run the town, necessary to provide the services we think the people of Darien expect, both in terms of our operating budget to maintain the provision of those services, as well as capital investments to keep our capacity to provide services in good shape," First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky said. "We've taken I think a pretty sharp pencil to the proposed numbers."

Over several meetings, the board analyzed the budget to craft a recommendation. Budget hearings were held in Town Hall and broadcast via Darien TV79.

The selectmen decided to use funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and put them towards several projects that were cut from the town budget, such as town clerk vault security, fixing cracks in the basketball court at Cherry Lawn Park, fixing the fence at Baker Park, and others.

Town Administrator Kate Buch said she identified over $300,000 in ARPA funds that can be repurposed.

First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky explained that ARPA funds must be completely spent by Dec. 31, 2025. If it's not spent by then, the town loses the money.

"What we can do is we can ensure that all of the ARPA money is spent, that we're not going to lose any of it, and importantly, it helps us take the pressure off a tight budget year this year," he said.

Also of note, the selectmen removed $650,000 from the budget for the Weed Beach Meadow & Trail project.

Zagrodzky said the figure was somewhat of a placeholder, and he wanted to hold off on including fund for the project until the town has firm numbers on a cost and a comprehensive plan.

The Darien Foundation had offered to support the remainer of the project through a $350,000 grant.

"We're not saying we're not going to do the Weed Beach project. I look forward to speaking with my friends at The Darien Foundation and asking for their patience in awarding the grant and supporting us with this, and hopefully they will, because they'll be able to see the $350,000 that they've offered for this project is going to be against a robustly developed plan," Zagrodzky said earlier in the week during a budget hearing.

Additionally, a higher tipping fee was recommended by the selectmen.

Director of Public Works Ed Gentile has proposed a $50 per ton tipping fee for recyclables, but Selectman Monica McNally suggested increasing it to $75, which matches what Darien pays going out.

After the Board of Finance approves the municipal budget in March, the Representative Town Meeting will have the final say in May.

View the Boar of Selectmen budget meetings on Darien TV79.