What’s in Greenwich’s 2026-27 Budget?

Greenwich officials are proposing a $543 million budget, up 4.33% from the year before. On the town side, First Selectman Fred Camillo is proposing a $144 million operating budget, with an additional $127 million set aside for fixed costs, which include items like health care and insurance. 

Also, Greenwich, unlike a lot of other communities, has a capital tax levy baked into its budget, which this year is proposed to increase to $64 million. This allows it to pay for some of its capital projects, like school construction projects or recreation facilities, without having to borrow. The levy also includes payments for debt service—or principal and interest payments on any debt the town does issue. 

On the school side, Superintendent Toni Jones is proposing a $207.2 million budget, up about 4.4% from the previous year. 

What are some of the budget highlights? 

Camillo, who presented his budget to the Board of Estimate and Taxation in late January, focused on the capital budget items that he said the town needed to invest in.

“When you defer these projects, all you’re doing is passing along the obligations to future residents and future officials to deal with,” he said. 

One of the biggest projects Camillo highlighted was the Hamill Rink Replacement project, which he included $41.2 million for in this year’s capital budget.

Camillo also highlighted $4 million in funding this year (and $4 million next year) to replace two bridges over the Byram River, $4 million this year in funding for the design work for a new Greenwich High School pool, $10 million for the design and construction work for Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, and $3.37 million for ongoing renovation work at Julian Curtiss Elementary School. 

On the operating side, Camillo said the town was trying to “be responsive,” but also address concerns about the town’s number of employees. This year’s budget proposes to add 3 full-time positions, while eliminating some part-time roles. 

On the school side, Jones and Mike Mercarni-Anthony, chair of the Board of Education, said that they were “proud of this budget.” 

“We feel that it very much represents our fundamental responsibility of the achievement of potential of every individual student in Greenwich Public Schools,” Mercarni-Anthony said. 

Jones said that some of the budget pressures are due to the fact that while “the overall number of students is down, we’ve gone up in special education and down in general education.”

Still, Jones said that this year’s budget was primarily status quo. The district saw a $7.5 million increase between contractual salary obligations and transportation costs. It’s only adding $304,000 in new programming, which includes a new elementary co-teaching, an additional preschool class, and a special education speech therapist. 

“This is one of the lowest years we’ve had for new programming,” she said, noting that’s in part because “we’ve built the unique programs. We’ve done a lot of great work, this year we didn't need as much.”

Still, the budget, while going up 4.4%, does cut 11.5 full-time positions, including six teaching positions and an administrator at Greenwich High School.

What’s the reaction to the proposed budget?

Many residents voiced their support for the Dorothy Hamill Rink project. 

Neal Rich, who serves as the head varsity hockey coach, said that the students in the community who skate deserve a rink to call home. 

“It would mean the end of GHS hockey [if the rink shut down],” he said. “It would kill the town program as all those kids would find other programs to play for. It’s time for a change and one that will keep hockey alive, preserve its history, and evolve with the time.”

Gabriella Feinstein, who said she’s part of “a hockey family,” said that the rink is “not just old, it's failing.”

“It’s literally falling apart and unsafe, and yet the Hamill rink is the only place in Greenwich where students can play hockey,” she said. “This is not a nice to have, it's an essential. Our kids cannot wait. The time to move forward is now.” 

But others raised concerns about the school district cutting staff. 

Charles Guliner, a sophomore at Greenwich High School, said that reducing teachers doesn’t just affect academics, but it also impacts the social and emotional wellbeing of students. 

“When you reduce teachers at GHS the impact is immediate—classes get larger, teachers have less time to help students individually,” he said. “Without enough teachers students may not get the support they need to manage stress, navigate difficult circumstances and prepare for college and careers.”

John Fisher, a parent and co-president of the Greenwich High School PTA, said he came “not to praise this school budget, but to bury it.”

“Some may say this budget is efficient, efficiency does not teach any student. Fiscal responsibility does not enrich any student,” he said. 

Fisher said that the people of Greenwich “voted pro schools,” so he asked the BET to have the superintendent and Board of Education present different budget options that preserve student facing positions.

In addition, many members of the Riverside School community asked that their school construction project, which was listed on Camillo’s budget as part of fiscal year 2028-29, be funded sooner. 

Riverside Principal Jason Martin said that with the new building committee established, the work has “real momentum.” 

“As that work begins, as priorities are balanced we ask that Riverside not be unintentionally forgotten or pushed later,” he said. “Being able to say with confidence that the process is moving forward would mean a great deal to our community.” 

Stephan Pezek, who chairs the Riverside Building Committee, said the “further out we push the design and construction” the more prices will rise. 

“The core building is 90 years old and was last renovated 30 years ago,” he said, adding that the renovation didn’t “address ADA issues, didn’t address current students needs.” 

What’s next?

The Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) is in the middle of its budget review days, where it hears from all departments across the town and schools. Here’s a full calendar of the days departments are scheduled to appear. 

The BET is planning to make its decisions on the budget on Tuesday, March 3 and Wednesday, March 4 (if needed). It will then host a public hearing at the end of March on Thursday, March 26, where residents can weigh in on its proposed budget before it’s finalized and sent to the RTM. The RTM has the power to approve the budget or reduce it, but it cannot add to it. Here’s a schedule for the next few weeks of meetings.