At its Monday night’s (Feb. 27) special meeting, the Board of Selectmen approved a budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2019 with an increase of 0.883% over last year’s budget. The total budget of $33,501,999 reflects an increase of $293,123 versus FY’18.

The selectmen and town department heads worked over the last three weeks to bring that increase number down from a preliminary budget increase of 2.025% that was discussed at the beginning of February.

First selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice outlined the savings and reductions contained in the approved budget, including:

  • Consolidation of Department of Public Works director and Facilities director positions
  • Shared CFO with the Board of Education
  • Elimination of one police officer mid-year
  • Reduction in required OPEB funding
  • Changes in benefits with employees moving to high deductible healthcare plan
  • $25,000 reduction in the Wilton Library grant
  • Reduction in Trackside Teen Center grant from $120,000 to $98,000

The BOS maintained funding for the Library equal in amount to the FY’18 grant, with an additional $25,000 challenge grant, giving an incentive dollar-for-dollar match of unrestricted monies the Library raises in excess of its submitted budget, up to the $25,000.

The BOS will now present its budget to the Board of Finance before the proposed budget is presented to town residents for feedback. The Board of Finance will then decide what changes if any should be made to the budget before setting the mill rate and presenting a budget at the Annual Town Meeting and vote in May.

Exact dates for all budget discussions and actions are:

Monday, Mar. 5  Board of Selectman regular meeting (Town Hall Room B)
Tuesday, Mar. 13  Board of Finance/Board of Selectmen budget review (Town Hall Room B)
Monday, Mar. 19  Board of Selectman regular meeting (Town Hall Room B)
Tuesday, Mar. 20  Board of Finance regular meeting (Town Hall Room B)
Monday, Mar. 26  Board of Finance Public Hearing on Board of Education budget (Middlebrook School Auditorium)
Tuesday, Mar. 27  Board of Finance Public Hearing on Board of Selectman budget (Middlebrook School Auditorium)
Monday, April 2   Board of Selectman regular meeting (Town Hall Room B)
Tuesday, April 3  Board of Finance Mil Rate meeting (Town Hall Room B)
Wednesday, April 4  Board of Finance Mil Rate meeting (Town Hall Room B)
Thursday, April 5  Board of Finance Mil Rate meeting, if needed (Town Hall Room B)
Monday, April 16  Board of Selectman regular meeting (Town Hall Room B)
Tuesday, April 17  Board of Finance regular meeting (Town Hall Room B)
Tuesday, May 1  Wilton Annual Town Meeting and Vote (Clune Center Auditorium)
Saturday, May 5  Adjourned Vote (Clune Center Auditorium)