Greenwich Free Press (https://greenwichfreepress.com/tag/bill-drake/)
“We are at a critical juncture where spending is about to increase dramatically while the new debt policy is a risk to our long-standing financial strength and quality of life.” – Bill Drake (BET) and Brooks Harris (RTM) Continue Reading →
“In the last 12 budgets, we’ve appropriated the massive amount of $664 million to create improved infrastructure… We financed these projects either from cash reserves or with our successful borrowing policy of short maturities. Our general practice is to borrow over seven years: a one-year note rolled over to a second year, followed by a five year bond. The clear advantage of this approach is that the debt is rapidly retired.” – Bill Drake, Republican member of the BET Continue Reading →
“The BET has a long-standing practice of borrowing money for short maturities for our town’s capital improvements. This practice has kept taxes and debt manageable, a success for every resident. In contrast, a few voices are calling for increasing the borrowing term to the life of the capital project – in other words, moving from our successful ‘modified pay-as-you- go’ method of financing to longer term borrowing.” – Republican BET members, Michael Mason, Leslie Tarkington, Bill Drake, Andy Duus, Karen Fassuliotis, Debra Hess Continue Reading →
The six members of the Board of Estimate and Taxation ask the Board of Education define programs with well-defined measurable goals and discontinue or change those programs with minimal student benefit. “It is time for the BOE to re-examine headcount growth and the rising costs of schools.” – Michael Mason (Caucus Chair), Leslie Tarkington, Bill Drake, Andy Duus, Karen Fassuliotis, Debra Hess Continue Reading →
The top vote getter in Tuesday’s primary was Debra Hess with 1,324 votes. Continue Reading →
In a 90-minute debate candidates shared ideas for funding capital projects, finding efficiencies, watching head counts, and controlling pension and health care costs. There was also talk of running schools in a period of declining enrollment and running a “private, money-losing nursing home.” Continue Reading →
Peter Tesei was nominated on July 25 by the RTC for a record 6th term, along with John Toner, nominated for a second full term. Shakeups in the process that excluded incumbents from the slate, including Leslie Tarkington who is petitioning for a place on the ballot for BET. Peter Bernstein is petitioning for a spot on the ballot for BOE. Continue Reading →