Finance Board Sessions Conclude—

Economic Trends Weigh On

Local Budget Considerations

By John Voket

The Board of Finance was scheduled to complete its 2009 budget recommendation Thursday evening after the print edition of The Bee went to press. For links to all audio and available video transcripts of finance board budget meetings, and details about the outcome of deliberations, go to newtownbee.com. The final results of Board of Finance budget deliberations will also be delivered as it is happening to anyone following “TheNewtownBee” on Twitter.

Following a public hearing on the 2009 proposed town budget, finance board officials settled in for four nights of quizzing and vetting dozens of department requests and line items with a goal of justifying how every taxpayer dollar will be squeezed in the current ailing economy. Going into the four-night marathon of questions, and emerging with many answers, the board was poised Thursday to consider whether the proposal should be refined beyond what was delivered to its members by the Board of Selectmen, or whether to pass the 2009 spending package to the Legislative Council as is.

The Board of Selectmen has recommended a 2009 town budget of $38,000,069, which represents a $1.43 million or 3.63 percent decrease from the current year’s municipal operating budget, while the Board of Education endorsed a budget proposal totaling nearly $67.2 million, representing a 1.74 percent increase over the current operating budget.

Following are recaps of the municipal and school district meetings.