Ridgefield Public 2022-23 Budget Hearing Is Monday

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Residents will have their chance to weigh in on the proposed 2023 town and school budgets during a public forum Monday.

The ticket price for the combined town and schools spending plan is $156 million, representing a 3.22 percent hike above the current budget.

The proposed Board of Education budget is $107 million of the total. The schools' plan represents a 4.79 percent increase over their current budget, and a shave of $197,409 off Superintendent Susie Da Silva's initial ask.

The total proposed municipal operating expenses are 40.8 million, with the remaining $8.2 million covering debt services.

The $687,608 information technology line would be a jump of over 16 percent above the current spend. Another big winner should the proposed budget be approved are the town's roads, slated for a $600,000 increase.

Proposed grants to community organizations, at $36,200, are roughly unchanged from last year's spend. The Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association ($10,000), the Women's Center ($6,000) and the Mamanasco Lake Improvement Fund ($6,000) would score the lion's share. The quasi-public Ridgefield Library is slated to receive $2.2 million from the town in the next fiscal year.

Monday's public budget hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Veterans Park Elementary School, located at 8 Governor Street.