Newtown Selectmen Approve Fire LOSAP Changes, Hear Walczak’s 2026–27 Budget Plan

NEWTOWN, CT — The Newtown Board of Selectmen unanimously approved changes to the town’s Length of Service Award Program for volunteer firefighters and ambulance personnel and received First Selectman Bruce Walczak’s proposed 2026–27 municipal budget during its Jan. 20 meeting.

By a unanimous vote, the board approved a recommendation from the Pension Committee to modify the LOSAP benefit for members of the Newtown fire departments and ambulance service. The change increases the award from $10 to $15 per month for each year of qualified service, resulting in a maximum monthly benefit of $300 for volunteers with 20 years of service. The board also authorized transferring all existing LOSAP assets currently managed by Empower to a deposit annuity contract with National Life Insurance Co., with future town contributions directed to the same program.

Walczak presented his proposed 2026–27 budget, outlining staffing additions, capital investments and increased pension contributions. The proposal includes four new full-time positions — a facilities maintainer, building inspector, emergency dispatcher and director of operations — which Walczak said are intended to address aging infrastructure, development-related workload, emergency communications staffing pressures and operational demands within town government.

The budget also includes increased contributions to police and fire/EMS pension plans, a $200,000 transfer to the town’s Medical Self-Insurance Fund, and capital spending focused on security improvements, accessibility upgrades and replacement of aging vehicles and equipment. Budget materials presented to the board indicated that projected debt service remains within limits set by town policy.

The board reviewed and accepted December 2025 financial reports, which showed favorable revenue and expenditure trends in the general fund and projected an increase in the town’s unassigned fund balance to 10.21 percent by the end of fiscal year 2026.

Selectmen also unanimously approved several appointments and reappointments, including moving Sally Jones from alternate to full member of the Hattertown Historic District Commission, appointing Jack Weber and Lisa Shirk to the Bike & Trail Committee, appointing Dan O’Donnell to the Lake Zoar Authority, and reappointing Erin Rosario as Newtown’s tax collector.

In addition, the board unanimously approved Tax Refunds No. 29, dated Jan. 20, totaling $12,173.73.

No public comment was offered. The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.