Greenwich BET Budget Committee Unveils Draft Budget Guidelines

GREENWICH, CT — The Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation Budget Committee gave the public an early look at what the fiscal 2022-2023 budget could look like during their meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

Budget Committee Chair Leslie Tarkington presented draft budget guidelines to the rest of the committee. Guidelines are non-binding and don't represent an official budget proposal, but they do represent a starting point in the budget process before the BET crafts a final spending plan in the spring. The guidelines are usually voted on in October, which kicks-off the budget season.

The process culminates in May when the Representative Town Meeting meets to grant final adoption for the town budget.

According to the draft guidelines and estimated budget projections, the 2022-2023 budget would increase from the current year's spending plan of $448.5 million to $463 million (.032 percent.).

A capital budget of $63.8 million is projected for "required annual maintenance expenses, remediation, and improvement projects."

The mill rate, which is used to calculate property taxes, would be projected to increase by .03 percent under the spending plan.

"The BET recognizes the burden on Greenwich families in these times. The Town and the Board of Education/schools must continue to offer services that make Greenwich the best place to live, raise a family, start a business, or retire," Tarkington said in the draft budget guidelines. "While the Town of Geenwich's mill rate is often cited as being low, the Town of Greenwich housing values are high. Consequently, the BET recognizes that the resulting property taxes have a meaningful impact on homeowners and those that rent."

Tarkington said that the BET will be requesting that First Selectman Fred Camillo, the Board of Education, and all department heads to "review all areas of their operations and staffing tables to identify areas of efficiencies and underutilized service that might lead to reduction of those services."

Tarkington added, "Any cost containment that can be initiated in FY22, should be evaluated and implemented. Such initiatives may include, for example, restraint in filling vacated positions or limiting overtime and temporary services. The Budget Committee expects the Town and BOE/Schools to be nimble."

Democrats had questions and concerns over the draft guidelines. BET Democratic caucus leader Leslie Moriarty said more people should have been involved in putting together the draft. It was prepared by Tarkington, a Republican, and Comptroller Peter Mynarski and Budget Director Roland Geiger.

"The draft that was distributed is primarily your work, working with the financial staff, but it's the assumptions you've put in this model... I have some concerns over some of the assumptions being made," Moriarty said, specifically on the capital budget number.

"When we get to decision day in February, March and April sometimes, the guidelines seem to be used as a cap. The capital number is not based on any real information that we have," she said.

Budget Committee member Jeff Ramer suggested that a workshop be held on Sept. 27 so the members can dive deeper into the draft. He, too, said he had concerns with some of the figures Tarkington laid out.

"There are a number of figures I feel like you're using here which are aspirational. I think the process of budget guidelines is not to be an aspirational document," Ramer said. "It's to be a reflection as a matter of practicality of where we think we're going to be, whether we like those realities or not. With that in mind, there are a number of figures I looked at that I wasn't comfortable with."

Tarkington said there were many lessons learned during the last two budget cycles with regards to navigating COVID-19. She expects the upcoming year to be "more upbeat" and "hopefully positive."

"We are proud of the accomplishments achieved by the Town and BOE/Schools and Town of Greenwich staff during the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, and how forward thinking and fiscally pragmatic expenditures in previous budget cycles have benefitted the Town, the BOE/Schools, and residents. The Budget Committee expects this thoughtful and balanced approach again in FY23," Tarkington said in the draft guidelines.

"There have been lessons learned from the Town and the BOE/Schools expenditures including how they operated during COVID-19, and these are expected to continue to be implemented during FY23. The Budget Committee will want to learn of new opportunities for operating efficiencies and cost savings."

To view the draft guidelines in its entirety, click here.