Selectmen Set Operating Budget at $39.7M, a 4% Increase [Update]

The Darien Board of Selectmen unanimously approved a $39.7 million operating budget Wednesday night for the next fiscal year, representing an increase of about 4 percent from current spending levels.

The $39,679,695 total is down from the initial $40,486,131 proposal brought to the board by Town Administrator Karl Kilduff. It includes several staff reductions, with three employees set to be switched from full-time jobs to part-time.

“As in most things in life, there are things I like about this budget, and there are things I do not like about this budget,” Selectman David Bayne (D) said.

The Board of Finance is now set to review the spending package. The Representative Town Meeting will have the final vote on the budget.

“I hope the Board of Finance and the RTM do not cut.” Bayne said. “If they do cut, they will be cutting to the bone.”

Selectman Callie Sullivan (D) praised Kilduff and Finance Director Kate Buch for compiling a sensible plan in this difficult economy and for answering the selectmen’s questions.

Sullivan added that the five selectmen interacted with each other in a conciliatory fashion.

“I hope the press catches this. We worked together to form this budget,” Sullivan said. "We got the biggest bang for our taxpayer’s buck.”

The board removed $600,000 from the original proposal by reorganizing anticipated savings in debt service and another $30,000 by deciding not to fix fences at Hollihan Field.

“We made decisions not to spend money on certain programs and capital budgets because it is a tough budget year,” First Selectman Dave Campbell said.

The selectmen also reduced two secretaries from full-time to part-time in the Department of Public Works, generating a savings of $90,000, and reduced one employee in the fire marshal’s office from full-time to part-time, generating a savings of about $15,000. 

But the board kept $40,000 in the package to look into adding sidewalks to Hoyt Street in response to residents' concerns about pedestrian safety near the Talmadge Hill station. Pension costs and the rising price of fuel also contributed to the 4 percent increase.

Selectman Jayme Stevenson (R) saluted the town's department heads for making tough decisions before they presented their budget requests. 

“We are now trying to get blood from a stone,” Stevenson said

“We can go through this exercise every year. The Board of Finance needs to make systemic changes," she added. "I am really proud of this budget — I think we did a great job. … But I am always sad when it translates to a loss of jobs.”