At Monday’s Board of Estimate and Taxation meeting there was no action taken on any interim appropriation for the schools operating budget after a letter to the editor was published over the weekend from three Republicans who said they’d support an $1,957,842 interim to restore buses to continue the GHS 8:30am start time.
The board did vote to reject a recall of the block grant advisory committee’s recommendation. The party-line tie vote meant the vote to reverse the wish of the First Selectman failed.
One key vote was to set a 2025-2026 mill rate of 12.041, which reflects a 2.81% increase, and a little bit higher for anyone in a sewer taxing area.
The vote was to approve 12-0-0.
The mill rate is used to calculate property taxes. A mill is equal to $1.00 of tax for each $1,000 of assessed value.
Despite the increase, the town’s mill rate is one of the lowest in the state of Connecticut.
The board also appointed a new comptroller to replace Pete Mynarski who is retiring on June 30. A search was conducted and many people were interviewed.
Joan Lynch will be the town’s new comptroller starting July 1, with a salary of $230,000. She has been deputy comptroller.
Lynch also served as finance director at the town owned nursing home, The Nathaniel Witherell after the CFO left. Prior to that she was assistant treasurer for Greenwich.
When the chief accounting officer retired last year, the finance dept had an opening to what changed to be deputy comptroller. Lynch applied and was appointed by Peter Mynarski. From there she put in an application to be comptroller.
Mr. Fisher said there had been an exhaustive search. Originally an outside search firm was hired, resulting in over 40 candidates, which was narrowed down to seven or eight. He said Ms Lynch became the “clear choice.”
The town also has a new budget director, Agnes Cawai, who will take over from Roland Geiger who will retire in the fall. She was previously the assistant budget director here before working in other towns, and is now returning.
Peter Mynarski, outgoing comptroller of the town of Greenwich, Joan Lynch the incoming comptroller.
See also:
In Party Line Tie Vote, BET Rejects Request to Revert to Block Grant Committee Recommendation