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The What

The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of March 13.

The What: This Week in Southwest Connecticut
The sun is setting after 7 p.m. again! Photo by Kelly Prinz

Monday, March 13

Happy Monday! This week, we’re diving head first into proposed budgets across the region. All six communities across southwest Connecticut have officially kicked off their budget process and there are multiple opportunities for you to get involved in your community’s process.

Let’s take a look at some overall highlights from budgets across the region.

  • All communities are proposing an increase in their budgets, with many local officials across the region saying external factors, like an increase in borrowing rates, inflation, and higher energy costs, are playing a big part in their budget increases.
  • That’s also why many city officials have said that they’re trying to keep the increases as low as possible because many residents are also dealing with those same issues.
  • Officials said that the budgets will help provide better services, such as investments in school facilities, additional staff to meet residents’ needs, and improvements to infrastructure, such as sidewalks and bike lanes.
  • School budgets make up the largest expense for all municipalities, usually more than 55% of the budget.

Learn more with our piece highlighting major budget themes around the region or see what’s going on in your specific community:

Greenwich | Stamford | Darien | Norwalk | Westport | Fairfield

Let’s see what else is happening around the area.

Stamford

Stamford’s budget review and discussion season is officially underway now that Mayor Caroline Simmons has presented her proposed budget. The Fiscal Committee of the Board of Representatives is hosting two Budget Presentation meetings—one on Tuesday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m. featuring the operations department and one on Thursday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. featuring areas including parking, anti-blight, and risk management. The Board of Finance is also beginning its review and discussion on the budget at its meeting on Wednesday, March 15 at 7 p.m.

Check out the proposed budget in Stamford.

Other meetings this week include:

Norwalk

The Board of Estimate & Taxation is hosting three Budget Review sessions this week—one on Monday, March 13 at 6:30 p.m. featuring departments including community services, health, library, public works, and recreation and parks; one on Tuesday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m. featuring the finance department and tax assessor; and one on Wednesday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. featuring the Board of Education.

Norwalk’s had one of the “most challenging” budget seasons so far, according to Mayor Harry Rilling, as the Board of Education requested a 12.7% increase, the largest in the region, but the Council’s cap would give about a 5% increase to the Board of Education. Check out the proposed budget in Norwalk.

Other meetings this week include:

Fairfield

The Board of Finance is hosting three meetings this week—two related to the budget and one related to Penfield Pavilion. On Monday, March 13, there will be a Board of Finance Special Meeting at 7 p.m. asking the board to discuss and vote on a resolution “appropriating $10,500,000 for costs related to construction, remediation and addressing the Notice of Violation at Penfield Pavilion.”

The board will also host two Public Budget Sessions—one on Tuesday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. featuring public works and culture and recreation and one on Wednesday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m featuring public safety.

Check out the proposed budget in Fairfield.

Other meetings this week include:

Greenwich

The Budget Committee of the Board of Estimate and Taxation officially wrapped up its budget review this week. Check out the proposed budget in Greenwich. The next opportunity for public input will come later this month.

Other meetings this week include:

Darien

The Board of Finance will host a public hearing on the budget on Tuesday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. Check out the proposed budget in Darien ahead of time.

On Monday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m., the Finance and Budget Committee of the RTM will discuss the proposed budgets and also determine partnerships for reviewing the budget alongside the Board of Finance.

Other meetings this week include:

Westport

There will be a Public Information Meeting on the Cross Highway Corridor on Tuesday, March 14 at 7 p.m. on proposed improvements to the Cross Highway Corridor between North Ave and Bayberry Lane.

Last week, the Board of Finance held a budget hearing on the town budget, but had to reschedule the Board of Education one. Learn more about what’s in the budget proposals.

Other meetings this week include:

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.

Thank you for reading!

If you are interested in being a part of our reporting or just want to share your thoughts, please reach out at coastalconnecticuttimes@gmail.com.

Have a great week,

Kelly Prinz

Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times


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