Newtown First Selectman Makes Budget Proposal

NEWTOWN, CT — First Selectman Daniel Rosenthal unveiled his town budget proposal that comes with a 2.45 percent increase over the current year. The overall increase is about $1 million over the current $42.1 million budget.

Departmental increases are kept below the rate of inflation and the budget also included an extra $250,000 for road work; without the roadwork the increase would be 1.86 percent, according to Board of Selectmen meeting minutes.

The budget increase not including new operational costs at the new senior center and police building is 1.46 percent.

The largest increases are for wages and salaries at around $253,000, debt service around $236,000 and operating expenses at $198,000.

Staffing changes at senior service, police and public works will save a total of $56,000 while salary increases for an IT operations supervisor and human resource director will add $7,000 in costs.

A senior services full-time position would be reduced to part time, police executive assistant hours would be reduced and two public works positions would be reduced to 1.5 positions.