Submitted by Scott Kalb, Member of the BET on the Democratic ticket. Candidate for election to the RTM in District 7.
This past April, the Republican majority on the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) used their tiebreaking vote to slash $4million from the public-school budget, without warning or justification. It was a devastating cut that resulted in unhealthy earlier start times at school, chaotic bus schedules, and reduced programming for our kids. Democrats on the BET were able to delay the budget vote by a couple of days in order to let residents know what was happening and give them a chance to make their voices heard.
Once they got wind of the public-school cut, town residents were outraged. Hundreds showed up to protest on budget decision day, a rare event. Over 1,400 residents, Democrats, Republicans and Unaffiliated voters, emailed the BET to express their concerns and ask them to reconsider. The RTM voted 147 to 37 to ask the BET to reopen the budget, and even the First Selectman asked Republican colleagues on the BET to rethink their decision. All to no avail, as Republican BET members turned a deaf ear and slashed the budget, ignoring the pleas of a majority of our townspeople and Democratic colleagues on the BET, all six of whom voted against the budget.
We weren’t able to stop our Republican colleagues on the BET last spring, but we can do something about it now.
This November 4th, Greenwich will hold critical local elections, including for the BET, perhaps the most powerful government body in town. The BET determines Greenwich’s finances, setting the town budget and the mill rate, shaping education spending, financing public safety, and planning for long-term capital projects.
The BET has 12 members (generally 6 Democrats + 6 Republicans), and the tiebreaking vote goes to the party that gets the most votes. All of the democratic and republican BET candidates listed on your ballot will likely get elected but YOUR vote helps determine which party gains majority control.
It’s time for a change. I urge you to vote for all six Democratic candidates for the BET and ONLY those six, in this election so they can gain the tiebreaking vote and get our town back on track.
We need new leadership on the BET to protect our kids, the safety of our residents, and the future of our town. I urge you NOT to vote for the Republican slate or the incumbent that is running as a sham “Independent,” and who was one of the main architects of the budget cuts.
Cutting funding for our schools wasn’t the only damage done by BET Republicans this past spring- they rammed through one the most unpopular budgets in our town’s history.
Republicans cut funds requested by the police and fire departments to keep our residents safe. They refused to finance crosswalks at dangerous intersections and flood prevention measures near Greenwich hospital. They cut funding for disabled and senior citizens. They even zeroed out required renovations to our sewage plant (just imagine the implications).
Moreover, they have refused to convene the debt policy committee for years, missing the opportunity to save our taxpayers money by funding our capital projects at low cost when interest rates were close to zero.
The BET is NOT elected to impose a partisan agenda – and cutting spending to the bone is not the answer. Keeping taxes low while taking care of our town’s needs and delivering the quality-of-life residents expect, is what matters.
Please vote for all six Democratic candidates for the BET and ONLY those six. We deserve a BET that will focus on building a better future for our town and I am confident the Democratic slate has the experience and credentials to deliver for all of Greenwich.
Scott Kalb
Board of Estimate and Taxation
Human Resources Committee
Investment Advisory Committee
Department of Public Works Liaison
Note: The deadline to submit letters to the editor about candidates for consideration in the Nov 4, 2025 municipal elections was Oct 28, 2025 at 12:00 noon.