Newtown Selectmen Approve Amended $51.6M Budget After Revising Capital, Staffing

NEWTOWN, CT — The Newtown Board of Selectmen unanimously approved an amended $51.6 million budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year following a series of amendments addressing capital projects, staffing proposals and public safety funding at its Feb. 2 meeting.

The board voted 3–0 to adopt the revised budget with a bottom line of $51,627,240 after approving multiple adjustments during a lengthy budget discussion. First Selectman Bruce Walczak presided over the meeting, which was held at the Newtown Municipal Center.

As part of the budget revisions, selectmen unanimously approved an amendment reducing police pension funding by $135,047 while restoring $80,000 for patrol vehicles and $52,500 for a fire administrator position, resulting in a net reduction of $2,547. The motion was made by Selectman Jeff Capeci and seconded by Selectman Paul Lundquist.

The board also voted 2–1 to remove $140,000 from a $310,000 capital improvement project for HVAC upgrades at the town garage, with Capeci and Lundquist voting in favor and Walczak opposed.

Finance Director Glenys Salas said the project uncovered broader HVAC and exhaust system failures that would require an additional $107,000 to complete, making it impractical to proceed without full funding this budget cycle.

A proposal to remove a newly proposed Director of Operations position from the budget failed on a 2–1 vote. Lundquist and Walczak voted to retain the position, while Capeci opposed it. Walczak said the role would provide coordinated oversight across town departments and address increasing operational demands on the First Selectman’s Office. Capeci argued the position duplicated existing responsibilities and added unnecessary cost.

Selectmen later withdrew a proposed $150,000 reduction for Fairfield Hills parking improvements after Salas explained the project addressed drainage, grading and safety concerns and could be reviewed further during upcoming Legislative Council budget discussions.

Earlier in the meeting, the board unanimously approved the minutes of its Jan. 28 meeting and unanimously appointed Kody Younger to the Economic Development Commission for a term ending Jan. 6, 2028.

An email submitted to the record through the town website spoke in opposition to the proposed Director of Operations position, questioning its necessity and suggesting the issue be addressed during the town’s upcoming charter revision process.

The meeting adjourned at 9:28 p.m.