Greenwich Free Press (https://greenwichfreepress.com/tag/board-of-estimate-and-taxation/)
“In the past year alone, there were 24 party-line votes decided by the Republican chair’s tie-breaking vote, including a controversial $4 million cut to the school budget. That decision led to changes in school schedules and the firing of teachers eliciting a strong rebuke from the RTM, which voted 147 to 37 (14 abstaining) to restore the funding.” – Elliot M. Alchek, Democratic Candidate for Re-election to the Board of Estimate and Taxation Continue Reading →
The primary is on on Sept 9, 2025. A Board of Estimate & Taxation Debate is schedule for Thursday, October 9, from 7:00 – 9:00pm in the Town Hall Meeting Room. Continue Reading →
“The school budget debacle reflects a larger, deeply troubling pattern – that our Republican-controlled BET’s short-term thinking and lack of rigor has led to worse outcomes for Greenwich residents, both financially and in our overall quality of life.” – Doug Fenton Continue Reading →
Tyler Fairbairn, who oversees grants for the town, had explained that if the $50,000 in Community Block Grant Program funding for the Greenwich Communities painting project was deleted, the funds would be held in a contingency fund until the funds were designated to an organization, and that the only way the town would lose the funds would be to fail to spend them by the May 1, 2026 deadline. Continue Reading →
All the BET Republicans said they supported the First Selectman’s decision to override the advisory committee on Community Development Block Grants. The committee said they had chosen projects with the greatest direct client impact and safety value. Continue Reading →
The SOMR refers to the severe disappointment with the BETs vote to reduce the school budget by over $4 million and requests that BET re-open the operating budget vote for fiscal year 2026, to better meet the financial needs of Greenwich Public Schools. Continue Reading →
“One of the central reasons behind Mr. Kalb and my resignation is because there is a catch. We can’t resolve any of the differences between the Chair of the HR Committee and the Director of HR if they’re not willing to talk. The situation is untenable, and that’s why we resigned from the committee.” – Elliot Alchek Continue Reading →
“The opportunity to restore responsible governance will arrive on November 4th. Until then, the damage inflicted by this terrible partisan budget will reverberate through our town, a stark reminder of the cost of ideological intransigence.’ – Democratic members of the BET Continue Reading →
“Somehow the world will end if superintendent Jones has to manage with a staff of 2019 level. My favorite lie is that teachers are paid less than peers and Dr. Jones cannot find candidates…They just ignore the scale and hire at the midpoint, $27,000 higher – or $87,000….We are reducing the increase to the BOE budget. Telling people we are cutting is disinformation.” – Republican BET member Karen Fassuliotis Continue Reading →
“Even if the BOE budget is fully funded, the total number of K-12 General Education teachers will have been reduced by 30 (~4.3%) since the 2022-23 school year, a combination of proactive cuts by the BOE and a reduction in Title I and other grant funded positions. In the approved budget, our GenEd student / teacher ratios are expected to rise again next year, with K-5 classrooms having their largest average class size since 2019.” – Doug Fenton Continue Reading →