By: Richard Kaufman
The Greenwich Sentinel will bring you updates from Greenwich’s Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET). The BET is responsible for the proper administration of the financial affairs of the Town including the issuance of the annual recommended budget and setting the Town tax mill rate. The Board also acts on requests for additional appropriations, transfers and allotments made during the fiscal year.
The BET held a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday night, and approved three routine applications. While the agenda was somewhat light, the Board gave a report on many of the different activities its committees and liaisons are involved in.
Routine Applications
The Board unanimously approved the release of $1.9 million, which will allow construction to begin on the Cardinal Stadium bleachers at Greenwich High School. The funds were included in the town budget, but the BET had to authorize the usage as conditions were met along the way.
Funds approved last month, combined with the $1.9 million, will be put towards Phase 1A of the project, which includes the construction of new home side bleachers with a press box, additional structure below the bleachers that are ADA accessible including an elevator, team room and restrooms.
Phase 1B will include additional handicap parking and a new entry kiosk, as well as new lights. Phase 2 includes visitor bleachers and an additional structure for team rooms, restrooms and storage. This phase also includes additional site work related to the driveway, access to the Post Road, and movement of the tennis courts.
The Board also unanimously voted to release $400,000 to kickstart design work on the new Dorothy Hamill Rink. The funds were released after the Board was satisfied with a feasibility study of the project. The total cost of the new rink, which will replace the current 50-year-old facility, is estimated to be around $17 million.
“New construction offers the advantages of bringing the building to code, replacement of aging mehnicals and plumbing, improving the rink size to regulation standards, and enhancing facilities to attract team and private long term contracts,” said BET member and BET Budget Committee Chair Leslie Tarkington.
Additionally, the BET approved the use of a Port Security Grant of $146,982 for the Greenwich Police Department. The grant money is designed to enhance the department’s fleet equipment for water response and staff safety.
Committee Reports
BET members gave reports on various BET standing committees and what they’ve been involved with.
The BET is working with an external auditor to look at different departments. BET member and Audit Committee Chair Bill Drake reported that there are currently five audits planned, with an audit on the Greenwich Public Schools Student Activities Fund already complete. There is currently an audit underway on the revenues collected at Dorothy Hamill Rink, and at town marinas. Audits on the GPS Lunch Fund and town transfer station are yet to come.
Karen Fassuliotis of the BET Human Resources Committee reported that about one-third of employees are working at Town Hall since it reopened to the public last week. Additionally, she said the recommendation for a new assistant fire chief was forwarded to the Board of Selectmen, and that there is ongoing recruitment for a senior business analyst, as well as for a dental hygienist in the Department of Health.
Fassuliotis said there have been 47 teacher retirements and resignations since July 1, and there are 32 teachers on FMLA leave. Substitute teachers who have been filling classroom positions may have the potential for filing unemployment claims once they’re no longer needed. The town gets a 50% reimbursement for unemployment due to COVID-19 through the end of the year. The BET HR Committee is continuing to monitor the town’s COVID-19 response, she said.
The Investment Committee is an important aspect of the BET, said BET Chair Michael Mason.
“When we talk about the investments of the town, we have two major large funds. We have the OPEB fund (Other Post Employment Benefit Fund) and the pension fund. The pension is not fully funded, and that’s a strain on our budget. We continually look at how those investments are doing,” he said.
Budget Guidelines
The BET Budget Committee is currently crafting budget guidelines for the next fiscal year, which has been difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our BET policies look for guidelines to be done in October. I’m holding the Budget Committee members expressly responsible to do just that. A revised draft that will probably go to a special Budget Committee meeting hopefully within a week or so,” Mason said. “I think the committee has come to an agreement now on most of the operating expenses. I think they’re wrestling with the capital [side].”
A first draft of guidelines earlier this month recommended a budget of $456.3 million, an increase of $8 million over the current fiscal year. But guidelines don’t represent an official budget proposal, and it’s still very early in the budgeting process.
