Newtown Selectmen Begin Deliberation on Town Budget

NEWTOWN, CT — The Board of Selectmen has begun deliberating the 2019 - 2019 Municipal Services Budget.

On the table will be the budget proposed by First Selectman Dan Rosenthal, which represents a 2.9 percent increase over the 2018-19 plan.

As detailed in Rosenthal's plan, wages and salaries would increase by 2.4 percent, or roughly $300,800. The largest line item increase is capital expenses, up $327,800 from the current year. Most of the cap ex costs — $250,000 — are devoted to highway and road improvements.

One cost-saving measure proposed in the budget is combining the function of the director of social services ($60,233), director of community wellness ($67,958) and senior services director ($58,907) under the one, new hat of director of human/social services ($80,000).

The complete proposal may be found online here.

Upcoming meeting dates are Jan.28, Jan. 31 and Feb. 4, in the Council Chamber of the Newtown Municipal Center. Meetings are also live streamed on the Town website.

If approved by the Board of Selectmen, the budget will be sent to the Board of Finance and then to the Legislative Council before ultimately being sent to the voters at the Annual Budget Referendum on Tuesday, Apr. 23.