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The What

The What: Fairfield’s Proposed Budget; Inside Manresa Wilds; and more

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of March 2.

The What: Fairfield’s Proposed Budget; Inside Manresa Wilds; and more
Happy March—the sun is setting later, we're getting closer to spring! (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Monday, March 2

Happy Monday! We made it to March, which means spring is ever so closer. It also means that we’re entering the heart of budget season for many communities. Be sure to tune into our budget coverage, which we’ll be continuing to update each week. 

Highlights 

This section gives a brief overview of the key items in the newsletter.

Spotlight

This section features our main reporting each week.

For her first budget, Fairfield First Selectperson Christine Vitale proposed one that’s just under $403 million, a 4.97% increase from last year. 

The budget includes $243.9 million for the Board of Education, $134.4 million for the town, and $24.6 million to cover shared operating expenses, such as workers’ compensation funds and interest payments on debt. Vitale proposed $360.9 million coming from local taxes, with the rest coming from non-tax revenues, like investment income, service charges, and licenses/permits. 

“The budget is a reflection of our values and advances the administration’s priorities,” Vitale said when she unveiled the proposed budget at the Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday, February 24. “The men and women who work in our town every day—plow drivers, firefighters, police officers, teachers—they’re the ones that keep our town running and they're the resource we invest in the most.” 

Vitale said this budget will allow the town to “attract and retain highly qualified” employees, maintain the school system and libraries, support public safety, sustain critical infrastructure needs, and continue to support legal efforts against United Illuminating and Aquarion for projects that could impact the town. 

Some of the biggest cost drivers are ones that are happening across the region, such as rising health care costs. In addition, she noted that there are four collective bargaining units for town employees that are still in negotiations so they’re factoring in a reserve for when those are settled.

Dive deeper into Fairfield’s budget or explore other communities’ proposed budgets across the region. We’re updating all of them as we get more information. This week, Norwalk’s City Council voted to raise its cap, so we’ve got that update for you on Norwalk’s page. 

Last week, we published an inside look at the final plans for Norwalk’s Manresa Island, which will soon be turned into the Manresa Wilds public park. This week, we have a new video out, featuring a look at some of those plans. 

This Week at a Glance

This section aims to highlight the most important meetings and news taking place each week.

  • In Bridgeport, the City Council will meet on Monday, March 2 at 7 p.m. and review numerous items, including sending the proposed five-year capital plan to the Budget and Appropriations Committee for review. 
  • In Stamford, there will be a Joint Board of Finance and Fiscal Committee of the Board of Reps on Thursday, March 5 at 6 p.m., where Mayor Caroline Simmons will unveil her proposed budget and the boards will begin their review. 
  • Also in Stamford, the Board of Representatives will meet on Monday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. and vote on numerous items including a request for an additional appropriation for the new Westhill High School. Explore our series on school construction, which outlines the history of this project. 
  • In Norwalk, the Board of Estimate and Taxation is beginning its budget review with meetings on Tuesday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m. (for review of the budgets for the mayor’s office, police, fire, and more); Wednesday, March 4 at 6:30 p.m. (for review of the budgets for the school district, transportation, mobility, and parking, economic and community development, and more); and Thursday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. (for review of the budgets for public works, recreation and parks, and community services).
  • Also in Norwalk, the Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Wednesday, March 4 at 6 p.m. and review a request from 108 Water Street—which received an initial approval for residential, office, and restaurants uses—to convert some of the office use into hotel space. 
  • In Fairfield, the Board of Selectpersons will meet at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 2 to vote on the proposed budget and send it on to the Board of Finance, which will start its review on Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m
  • In Greenwich, the Board of Estimate and Taxation will kick off its Decision Day for the budget on Tuesday, March 3 at 9 a.m. with a tentatively scheduled day 2 (if needed) planned for Wednesday, March 4.
  • Also in Greenwich, the Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Tuesday, March 3 at 4 p.m. and review the town’s plans to replace and relocate the Dorothy Hamill Rink, which was discussed during this year’s budget presentations. 
  • In Darien, the Representative Town Meeting will meet on Monday, March 2 (rescheduled from last week) and vote on approving $475,702 for design work for access to Great Island and receive an update on how the town spent its American Rescue Act funds. 
  • Also in Darien, the Board of Finance will meet on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. to receive and begin discussing the proposed budget. 
  • In Westport, the Board of Finance will meet on Wednesday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. and hear budget presentations from First Selectman Kevin Christie and Superintendent Thomas Scarice and Board of Education Chair Lee Goldstein. 

Plan Your Week

This section includes a list of meetings, events, and programming happening around southwest Connecticut each week.

Bridgeport

Stamford

Norwalk

Fairfield

Greenwich

  • Monday, March 2: RTM Committees: Finance Committee at 7 p.m. | Education Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Land Use Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Legislative and Rules Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Public Works Committee at 7:30 p.m. 
  • Tuesday, March 3: Board of Estimate and Taxation at 9 a.m. | Planning and Zoning Commission at 4 p.m. | Old Greenwich Building Committee at 7 a.m.| Greenwich Townscape Community Collage Session at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. | Youth Commission at 7 p.m. | RTM Committees: Appointments Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Health and Human Services Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Parks and Recreation Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Town Services Committee at 7:30 p.m. | Transportation Committee at 7:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 4: Board of Estimate and Taxation at 9 a.m. 
  • Thursday, March 5: Conservation Commission at 7 p.m. | FS Sustainability Committee at 11 a.m. 
  • Friday, March 6: FS Arch Street Task Force at 3 p.m.

Darien

Westport

Stay in touch!

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Please note: All of these agendas and information here are current as of Sunday night. Meeting times and agendas may get adjusted throughout the week.

Have a great week,

Kelly Prinz

Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times

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