Greenwich BET Approves $465.1 Million Budget; RTM To Vote In May

GREENWICH, CT — After a marathon 13-hour meeting on Tuesday, the Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation approved the town's fiscal year 2022-2023 $465.1 million budget by a vote of 7-6.

All six Republicans voted for the budget, and all six Democrats voted against, with Republican BET Chair Dan Ozizmir using his tie-breaking vote to grant approval. The Representative Town Meeting will now have the final say on the spending plan on May 9. The RTM cannot add funds; they can only make cuts.

The total budget weighs-in at $465,105,871, which includes about $91 million in capital investments when adding in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and the town's sewer fund. The budget also includes a mill rate reduction of 2.65 percent. The mill rate is used to calculate property and vehicle tax.

"Budgets represent values, and budgets represent choices. I can say for myself, and the rest of my caucus, we voted for this budget because of what this budget has achieved," Ozizmir said following the 7-6 vote on Tuesday.

Ozizmir said the spending plan includes "the most significant capital investment" in town schools in many years, and also addresses draininage problems brought to light by Tropical Storm Ida.

Ozizmir said the BET "broke through a logjam" and increased communication with the Board of Education.

"Clearly there wasn't as much talking and communication as we would all love, but the fact is we got it done and we're moving forward," Ozizmir said. But he expressed disappointment in having to use his tie-breaking vote to approve the budget.

Democratic caucus leader and BET member Leslie Moriarty explained why her caucus voted against the spending plan.

"We're not surprised at the outcome, but we definitely are disappointed. It's primarily because this board missed an opportunity to properly plan for the town's future capital needs," Moriarty said. "The budget includes some important investments, but we voted against it mostly for what it does not include. It does not improve the town's ability to invest in the necessary infrastructure and improvement of projects."

Moriarty spoke against deferring projects.

"That's how we got here in the first place. It just kicks the can down the road," she said.

Julian Curtiss School was a big topic of conversation during Tuesday's meeting, and exemplified the split along party lines.

A motion put forward by Nisha Arora to cut $1.5 million for architecture and engineering work and the expansion of Julian Curtiss was supported by Republicans and approved by a 7-6 tie-breaking vote.

Republicans cited declining enrollment numbers and the need for other capital projects in the school district to go forward as reasons for the cut.

Democrats opposed. Moriarty said she understood the intent of the motion and the priority of other projects, but said delaying would only cost more money down the road.

"The concern I have about deleting the A&E funds is that the renovation of the educational spaces, the lighting, the cabinetry, the electrical systems, all does not get attended to for a long period of time," Moriarty said, saying that delaying could cost the town more money.

Ozizmir said there needs to be a conversation about enrollment first, and the priority right now in the district is Central Middle School and Old Greenwich School.

The BET approved about $3.5 million in HVAC work for Julian Curtiss as part of an overall $10 million package for schools. An elevator and ADA upgrades were also approved at the school, something Ozizmir said was desperately needed.

"I know there's disappointment that we're not looking to fund the $1.5 million of A&E, but the fact is, the most pressing needs at JC are going to be addressed immediately," he said.

Another cut came as the board deleted in a tie-breaking vote $316,995 for the hiring of four new firefighters, who would have been used to ultimately staff a new northwest fire station.

Republicans said there are a lot of things the town can do to improve fire protection at no cost, like address dispatch, turnout and response times.

Democrats said the fire coverage was needed, especially in light of the recent study of town fire services by consulting firm Matrix.

Several pedestrian safety projects were approved by the board.

Of note, $2.8 million was left in the budget for bumpouts/Greenwich Avenue intersection improvements at Arch Street and Havemeyer Place. A similar project was completed at the intersection of Greenwich Avenue and Elm Street last year.

However, the funds were approved Tuesday with conditions. The town must get confirmation and receipt of the $2.8 million from the state's Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program (LOTCIP).

There is also a condition that the funds from the state should not mandate the installation of traffic lights, and that the project must get Municipal Improvement status from the town.

Another condition states that the project must increase parking spots in the area by 10 or more, something the town has said is doable.

The BET debated at length whether demanding a certain number of spots was in its purview.

A motion from member Leslie Tarkington to defer the project for a year and wait for a traffic study failed in a bipartisan vote.

The board also approved $750,000 for the construction of a sidewalk on Shore Road, and $500,000 for Glenville neighborhood beautification, with conditions that $250,000 be raised privately. Additionally, $300,000 for traffic and safety improvements in Byram was approved.

During the public budget hearing last month, the community strongly supported the projects.

Elsewhere, the BET added $45,000 so the Rink User Committee for Design & Planning can find a location for a temporary ice rink. A new Dorothy Hamill Ice Rink is being proposed on its current footprint, so the town would need a temporary space to continue skating services.

The funds were approved with a condition put forward by Moriarty that the town recoup the money through private donations.

On Thursday, Ozizmir told Patch the budget is something taxpayers should be pleased with.

"To have our biggest capital year in history and have a negative mill rate for the residents is something I'm pretty excited about. I think ultimately the town will like this budget in the end," Ozizmir said. "I think it's a good budget, and I certainly hope the RTM approves it and we can get going."