By Sarah Opdahl
New Fairfield’s Board of Finance (BOF) continues to seek clarity on particular portions of the Town and education budgets, attending each weekly session with a host of questions for officials. On Wednesday, March 13, in the lead up to the BOF’s budget markup, each member is gaining a better understanding of needs and priorities, while also acknowledging the fact that the budget is too loaded. Currently standing as proposed, taxpayers would vote on a 9.52% increase, a number the BOF will not entertain bringing to residents. However, reductions are difficult. In order to bring the increase down to a more palatable 5%, for example, approximately $2.5 million needs to be cut.
Mr. Wes March pointed out that there are a number of levers that can be pushed or pulled to assist in bringing down the budget, including the bond premium, medical contribution, non-tax revenue, and capital—areas the BOF has used in the past for reductions. He stressed the leanest areas are in payroll and non-payroll, especially in the Town budget. Ms. Cheryl Reedy plans to send an email to her fellow members with a potential target percentage to consider. “We are almost in as difficult a situation as we were last year, we have a lot of work to do, so we are going to have to make tough choices, all of us,” she said. Reedy asked the Board of Selectmen to move more expeditiously on identifying and voting on additional or re-appropriated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, as those will likely impact the budget. “It needs to be voted on at the same time the voters are voting on everything else, that is only fair, that they know the whole package and how it all comes together,” she said. First Selectman Ms. Melissa Lindsey replied to explain that she is waiting for information but is eager to move forward. She said that a special meeting may be called to address ARPA-related funds.
Business and Operations Director Ms. Carrie DePuy addressed a series of questions arising from numbers that differed between the budget book and the actual. She plans to provide documents to better explain the differences. Similarly, she will provide information on any transfers that are made in order for BOF members to better understand where there were surpluses in budgeting. BOF members asked questions about the technology budget, following which Information Technology Director Mr. Paul Gouviea gave a thorough overview, including major line items descriptions for software, hardware, and database management, plus all department staff roles and overarching job duties. There were questions regarding the education operating budget, annual cost per pupil, high school non-payroll, curriculum and instruction, and past ESSER federal grant funding coverage.
When asked about the new community outreach role, Lindsey explained that the interview process is ongoing. She said the position is temporary, “until we see how valuable or not the position can be” and “what great ideas they can bring to us.” BOF members also discussed three Town salaries that were recently expanded by large amounts—one a 26% increase. Lindsey explained that the increases were completed before she came into the position, but they were increased to bring the positions more in line with similar towns. There was a lengthy conversation regarding the proposed Assistant Town Clerk position going from part- to full-time. It was agreed that if this position increase is not approved, a Registrar request for funding for election moderators would be needed.
BOF members are interested in participation numbers at the Senior Center. Ms. Peggy Katkocin remembered, “we got money to build that Senior Center provided it was solely used as a senior center for 10 years, that time has lapsed, and when we talk about having a facility for younger people, or to run some other programs, outside of what we are using our school buildings, it would just be interesting to know how many people [visit] on a daily basis.”
In public comment, Selectman Ms. Pat Del Monaco reminded the BOF of why she did not vote to approve the Town budget, in part because of the lack of funding for the Town’s animal control officer to hire a part-time assistant. She gave a defense for why she believes this position is needed.
In public comment, Ms. Danette Onofrio spoke to request necessary funding to support the upcoming primaries and election.
The Board of FInance will continue to meet weekly on Wednesday evenings in March to discuss the budget.