Submitted by Lucy Krasnor
The Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) is supposed to safeguard Greenwich’s finances and plan responsibly for our future. Unfortunately, under Republican leadership, the BET has repeatedly chosen short-sighted cuts and partisan maneuvering over careful planning and community needs.
In April, Republicans used the chair’s tie-breaking vote to slash $4.1 million from the school budget. That decision — made without proper consultation or analysis — forced staff layoffs, larger classes, and disrupted start times for our kids. As Democratic BET member David Weisbrod put it, “It wasn’t fact-based. They never anticipated the consequences.”
This isn’t an isolated case. Last year, Republicans tried to cut funding for police equipment critical to the town’s 911 system, without even checking with the police chief. They also blocked ADA improvements on Greenwich Avenue sidewalks, cut funds for paving, open space, and coastal resilience, and arbitrarily removed more than $1 million from public works in a single night.
The pattern is clear: projects are delayed until they become crises, costs rise unnecessarily, and residents are left footing the bill. Instead of long-term planning, we get last-minute cuts and tie-breaking votes that ignore both expert advice and public input.
Greenwich deserves better. We need a BET that listens to residents, respects professional expertise, and plans responsibly to keep taxes predictable while protecting schools, infrastructure, and public safety. That kind of leadership won’t come from more of the same.
On November 4, I urge my fellow residents to vote for all six Democrats for the BET. Let’s restore transparency, accountability, and common-sense financial stewardship to our town government.