Camillo Unveils Proposed $523 Million Budget For Fiscal Year 2026

GREENWICH, CT — Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo and school officials presented their proposed spending plans for 2025-2026 to the Board of Estimate and Taxation Budget Committee on Tuesday night, officially kicking off this year's budget process.

Camillo presented a town budget that weighed in at $523,023,561, a $21.7 million or 4.3 percent increase over the current year's spending plan. The BET's nonbinding guidelines asked for town budget increases, without benefits, capped at 2.93 percent for the town, and 2.96 percent for the Board of Education.

The proposed budget would have a mill rate increase from the current figure of 11.712 to 12.262. BET guidelines suggested a mill rate of 12.175.

The mill rate is used to calculate property taxes. Therefore, as an example, a taxpayer with a $1 million assessed home value would see a $550 increase in property taxes, Camillo said.

The proposed capital budget sits at $51.1 million, of which $19.6 million is from the Greenwich Board of Education. The BET had asked for no more than $50 million on capital in its guidelines.

In his budget presentation, Camillo said the operating side of the spending plan continues services for residents, while the capital side gets projects done that are important to the community.

Camillo went through several capital projects that are included in his budget.

Shore Road Sidewalk South Phase

There is $1.25 million in the fiscal year 2026 budget for final design and construction of sidewalk, signage and drainage improvements on Shore Road in Old Greenwich between Sound Beach Avenue and Tod's Point.

In 2023, a new sidewalk was constructed along the east side of Shore Road, from Tomac Avenue to Sound Beach Avenue as part of the North Phase.

"We encourage people to have active lifestyles, whether it's hiking, biking, or just walking around your neighborhoods; we want you to do it safely," Camillo said. "That's why you see a lot of emphasis on the administration on pedestrian and public safety, and this is part of it."

Public Safety Complex Garage Coating

The existing deck coating at the Public Safety Complex Garage is at the end of its service life and needs to be replaced. Camillo has included $1.3 million in his proposed budget for construction costs. Work will include new coating and a replacement of a deteriorated metal exterior stairwell.

"Underneath this garage and this surface is hundreds of thousands of dollars in public safety vehicles, as well as a forensics garage. That area absolutely needs to stay dry," Camillo said. "These things have to be maintained, otherwise you're going to wait too long and it's going to cost us a lot more money."

Roger Sherman Baldwin Park Project

For several years, Camillo has had visions of enhancing Roger Sherman Baldwin Park and giving residents views of the water that haven't been seen in 70 years, along with more green space and walking paths. Parks and Recreation operations have been at the park for decades, and trucks are routinely parked on the waterfront property, Camillo said.

"That is arguably some of the most expensive land, not only in Greenwich but probably the country, and we're parking trucks there and changing oil," Camillo said Tuesday.

Camillo noted those operations need to be moved from the park, and the town has identified the Holly Hill Resource Recovery Facility as a location since that site has to be reconfigured anyway, "but that's a big price tag," he said.

There is $950,000 slated in Camillo's proposed budget for design work for the park redesign, and $10 million is estimated for construction, which includes relocation of Parks & Rec. operations, for fiscal years 2029-2030.

Camillo said three foundations could help with funding to bring that $10 million figure down.
"I'm going to continue to push this and hopefully we'll find some funding to do that relocation," he said.

Greenwich Cove Channel Dredging

Camillo had included $1.5 million in his proposed budget to dredge the Greenwich Cove channel. The silt decreased the average depths to about 4.5 feet at low tide, Camillo said. Approximately 20,560 cubic yards of sediment would be removed.

"The shoreline is really one of our greatest assets, and we have to keep up with it," Camillo noted. "There's a lot of permits that are going to be expiring soon, and we're going to have to reapply for them. That makes the cost of this considerably more expensive."

Wallace Center Interior Upgrades

The estate of longtime Greenwich resident Mary Louise Wallace donated $1.32 million for the rehabilitation of the ground and first floor restrooms, activity rooms, administrative offices, outside ADA access ramp and a new kitchen and dining room at the town's senior center, now known as The Wallace Center.

Camillo said $2.89 million is in the proposed budget from fiscal years 2025-2027 for remaining interior renovations and infrastructure upgrades. Another "significant donation" will come from another family for a few more interior upgrades, as well as an outside courtyard, Camillo explained.

Other items in Camillo's proposed budget include $600,000 — $400,000 for Parks and Recreation and $200,000 for DPW — to purchase new electric leaf blowers to be in compliance with the town's new leaf blower ordinance; and $1.2 million for Greenwich Fire Department breathing apparatuses; and $550,000 to replace the town's telephone system.

Camillo also said multiple ADA compliance projects are included in the budget.

While Camillo isn't responsible for coming up with the school budget, he highlighted two capital projects that bring needed improvements to three schools.

According to the proposed budget, $2.61 million is set aside to renovate the current undersized cafeteria at Julian Curtiss School. At Hamilton Avenue School, $2 million is proposed to fund repairs of the parking structure there, including the upper-level lot and lower-level garage.

Riverside School was built in 1932 and is in need of improvements. $2 million is proposed to fund architectural and engineering work, and $48 million is forecast for fiscal year 2027 for construction to address a lack of accessibility, undersized cafeteria space, lack of program space, an undersized main office suite, security, and health and safety, among other issues.

School Budget

Greenwich Board of Education Chair Karen Hirsh and Superintendent of Greenwich Public Schools Dr. Toni Jones presented a $202.4 million operating budget, with a $19.6 million capital request.

"This budget represents countless hours of hard work, thoughtful deliberation and a steadfast commitment to our students, schools and community," Hirsh said. "The Board of Ed. believes it strikes the right balance between addressing the needs of our students and schools, and the impact upon taxpayers."

The proposed spending plan, which was approved by the Board of Education in October, represents a 5.1 percent increase from the current year's budget of $192.6 million.

Jones noted that a main budget driver was wage increases.

In addition to the three initiatives Camillo mentioned, proposed school projects include $5.8 million for ADA compliance at Western Middle School; $500,000 to improve cellular service (part II) at Greenwich High School; and $150,000 for architecture and engineering work for a new access driveway at GHS's Cardinal Stadium.

Following the budget presentations, a public hearing lasted nearly two hours.

Many residents urged the BET Budget Committee to fund the proposed school capital projects, especially for Riverside School.

In the coming weeks, the BET Budget Committee will do its departmental reviews as part of its consideration of the budget.

The first review will be on Feb. 4 with the Office of the First Selectman. The budget committee will continue its reviews throughout February, culminating in a "decision day" on March 4.

The Representative Town Meeting will then consider the budget in May. The RTM can only make budget cuts, not additions.

Budget documents for 2025-2026 can be viewed here.