By Elizabeth Barhydt
The Board of Estimate and Taxation has completed the initial phases of its fiscal year 2026–2027 budget review and will now begin hearing directly from residents, with public comment opening Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m.
The 12-member board, led by Democrats following last fall’s election, has spent the past month conducting detailed departmental reviews and consolidating budget figures submitted by First Selectman Fred Camillo. With that work largely complete, the process now shifts to public engagement before final decisions are made.
The Sentinel had a chance to talk in depth with BET Chairman David Weisbrod in late February, as the board was entering the core stages of its review process.
“The hearings are on Thursday the twenty-sixth,” Weisbrod said in that interview. “We’re hoping to get as much public input as we can.”
Residents may attend in person or participate via Zoom, with advance registration required for remote speakers
The Budget Committee has already completed its review of individual departments and finalized its recommendations earlier this month. The full BET will hold its decision day on March 31, with April 1 reserved if additional time is needed.
The budget under consideration reflects the proposal submitted by the First Selectman, which includes a projected 6.01 percent mill rate increase.
“If you look at the submission by Fred, there’s a tab called budget schedules, and page one of that, it shows the mill rate calculation, and it shows 6.01%,” Weisbrod said in the February interview. “That’s what’s been submitted by the first selectman.”
Weisbrod said at the time that the board’s work would center on evaluating that proposal line by line.
“We all want to look at that and see does that number make sense? Is that the right number? Are there opportunities to reduce that number?” he said. “That’s the work that’s going on right now.”
The chairman also described the board’s structure as a key factor in maintaining order during deliberations. Each standing committee includes equal representation from both parties.
“If the BET is working right, it should function through its committees,” Weisbrod said in the February interview. “Because each committee has 2 Republicans, 2 Democrats, so if they’re working right, everybody’s input is incorporated in whatever decisions are made.”
Committees including Budget, Audit, Policy, Investment Advisory, and Human Resources have been meeting regularly throughout February and March. Weisbrod said in February that those groups were operating with limited division.
“Not that every vote is unanimous,” he said, “but mostly there’s been no division. I can’t really think of any substantive division.”
In addition to reviewing the current budget, the board has resumed long-range financial planning through the Debt and Fund Balance Policy Committee, which had not met for several years.
“The dialogue has been extremely good,” Weisbrod said in February. “The town finance staff has done a terrific job in presenting the numbers that Fred provided. And we’re showing them to the public and kicking the tires and talking to the schools.”
He said those discussions include major future obligations, such as school construction and facility planning.
“The idea is to get a handle on this well in advance,” Weisbrod said.
Weisbrod also pointed to the workload carried by town staff during the budget cycle.
“This is the heart of the season right now, February, March,” he said in the February interview. “Everybody’s working hard.”
He added that the finance staff and budget director are “working flat out” to prepare fiscal year 2027 materials while continuing to manage ongoing financial operations.
Republican members described a similar shift in tone.
“I think we have a much better Republican team on the BET that is working well together,” said Harry Fisher, former BET chairman and current member. “We’re meeting on a weekly basis. We have respect for each other.”
Fisher said the current board has avoided the level of partisanship seen in previous terms.
“We’re good loyal opposition people that are interested in doing the best by the town,” he said. “At the end of the day, local issues are not partisan.”
Joe Kelly, a Republican BET member and former chair of the Board of Education, said the board has now entered the most consequential phase of the process.
“The challenges or the stress pressures will be when we address the budget,” Kelly said.
Kelly said the earlier committee work required close attention as members evaluated departmental presentations.
“Just listening to all the different departments make their presentations, I find it incredibly interesting how all the different departments run,” he said. “Since I’m one of four and there is an expectation of some questions on what they’re presenting, I do find myself needing to pay attention.”
He said his approach is to work toward agreement where possible.
“My goal would be certainly to try to figure out how we can get everybody what they need,” Kelly said.
Residents seeking to review budget materials ahead of the hearings can access schedules, documents, and recorded meetings through the town’s website.
Budget Committee meeting calendar: [https://www.greenwichct.gov/ DocumentCenter/View/53092/BET-BudgetCommittee-FY2026-2027-Budget-MeetingCalendar?bidId=] (https://www.greenwichct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/53092/BET-BudgetCommittee-FY2026-2027-Budget-MeetingCalendar?bidId=)
Board of Estimate and Taxation budget materials: [https://www.greenwichct.gov] (https://www.greenwichct.gov)
Greenwich BET Will Hear Public Comment Beginning Tonight
By Elizabeth Barhydt
The Board of Estimate and Taxation has completed the initial phases of its fiscal year 2026–2027 budget review and will now begin hearing directly from residents, with public comment opening Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m.
The 12-member board, led by Democrats following last fall’s election, has spent the past month conducting detailed departmental reviews and consolidating budget figures submitted by First Selectman Fred Camillo. With that work largely complete, the process now shifts to public engagement before final decisions are made.
The Sentinel had a chance to talk in depth with BET Chairman David Weisbrod in late February, as the board was entering the core stages of its review process.
“The hearings are on Thursday the twenty-sixth,” Weisbrod said in that interview. “We’re hoping to get as much public input as we can.”
Residents may attend in person or participate via Zoom, with advance registration required for remote speakers
The Budget Committee has already completed its review of individual departments and finalized its recommendations earlier this month. The full BET will hold its decision day on March 31, with April 1 reserved if additional time is needed.
The budget under consideration reflects the proposal submitted by the First Selectman, which includes a projected 6.01 percent mill rate increase.
“If you look at the submission by Fred, there’s a tab called budget schedules, and page one of that, it shows the mill rate calculation, and it shows 6.01%,” Weisbrod said in the February interview. “That’s what’s been submitted by the first selectman.”
Weisbrod said at the time that the board’s work would center on evaluating that proposal line by line.
“We all want to look at that and see does that number make sense? Is that the right number? Are there opportunities to reduce that number?” he said. “That’s the work that’s going on right now.”
The chairman also described the board’s structure as a key factor in maintaining order during deliberations. Each standing committee includes equal representation from both parties.
“If the BET is working right, it should function through its committees,” Weisbrod said in the February interview. “Because each committee has 2 Republicans, 2 Democrats, so if they’re working right, everybody’s input is incorporated in whatever decisions are made.”
Committees including Budget, Audit, Policy, Investment Advisory, and Human Resources have been meeting regularly throughout February and March. Weisbrod said in February that those groups were operating with limited division.
“Not that every vote is unanimous,” he said, “but mostly there’s been no division. I can’t really think of any substantive division.”
In addition to reviewing the current budget, the board has resumed long-range financial planning through the Debt and Fund Balance Policy Committee, which had not met for several years.
“The dialogue has been extremely good,” Weisbrod said in February. “The town finance staff has done a terrific job in presenting the numbers that Fred provided. And we’re showing them to the public and kicking the tires and talking to the schools.”
He said those discussions include major future obligations, such as school construction and facility planning.
“The idea is to get a handle on this well in advance,” Weisbrod said.
Weisbrod also pointed to the workload carried by town staff during the budget cycle.
“This is the heart of the season right now, February, March,” he said in the February interview. “Everybody’s working hard.”
He added that the finance staff and budget director are “working flat out” to prepare fiscal year 2027 materials while continuing to manage ongoing financial operations.
Republican members described a similar shift in tone.
“I think we have a much better Republican team on the BET that is working well together,” said Harry Fisher, former BET chairman and current member. “We’re meeting on a weekly basis. We have respect for each other.”
Fisher said the current board has avoided the level of partisanship seen in previous terms.
“We’re good loyal opposition people that are interested in doing the best by the town,” he said. “At the end of the day, local issues are not partisan.”
Joe Kelly, a Republican BET member and former chair of the Board of Education, said the board has now entered the most consequential phase of the process.
“The challenges or the stress pressures will be when we address the budget,” Kelly said.
Kelly said the earlier committee work required close attention as members evaluated departmental presentations.
“Just listening to all the different departments make their presentations, I find it incredibly interesting how all the different departments run,” he said. “Since I’m one of four and there is an expectation of some questions on what they’re presenting, I do find myself needing to pay attention.”
He said his approach is to work toward agreement where possible.
“My goal would be certainly to try to figure out how we can get everybody what they need,” Kelly said.
Residents seeking to review budget materials ahead of the hearings can access schedules, documents, and recorded meetings through the town’s website.
Budget Committee meeting calendar: [https://www.greenwichct.gov/ DocumentCenter/View/53092/BET-BudgetCommittee-FY2026-2027-Budget-MeetingCalendar?bidId=] (https://www.greenwichct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/53092/BET-BudgetCommittee-FY2026-2027-Budget-MeetingCalendar?bidId=)
Board of Estimate and Taxation budget materials: [https://www.greenwichct.gov] (https://www.greenwichct.gov)
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