Board of Estimate and Taxation

Recent Posts

BET CHAIR: There is a Process for Approving Capital Funds

By: |

“It is not fiscally prudent to ask for bids after the total cost was appropriated – practically speaking, you wouldn’t tell a contractor what you will be willing to pay before he had a chance to offer an estimate as to what they felt it would cost to do the repairs.” – Michael Mason, Chair, Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation Continue Reading →

Filed under: Letter to the Editor, Aquarion reservoir, BET, Board of Education, Board of Estimate and Taxation, Cos Cob School, Julian Curtiss School, Michael Mason

RAMER: Whose Budget is this ?

By: |
Jeff Ramer - Greenwich Free Press

” Low taxes are great. Stinginess is not. One time gimmicks that compromise fund balances, risk funds, and sound capital financing certainly are not. To me, these party-line votes were mean and unsound budgeting.” – Jeff Ramer, Democratic member of the Board of Estimate and Taxation Continue Reading →

Filed under: Letter to the Editor, BET, Board of Estimate and Taxation, Jeff Ramer, Julian Curtiss School, Mike Mason

Open Letter from BET Republicans to JC PTA and Families: We should not add more classrooms nor add new common spaces.

By: |

“As you may know, enrollment in our Greenwich Schools is declining, creating excess classroom space across Greenwich’s 11 elementary schools. In fact, due to this declining enrollment, we now have nearly enough vacant classrooms to accommodate a mid-sized elementary school.” – Michael Mason
Karen Fassuliotis
Bill Drake
Leslie Tarkington
Debra Hess
Andy Duus Continue Reading →

Filed under: Letter to the Editor, Board of Estimate and Taxation, Julian Curtiss School

Goldrick: BET Republicans ignored the values of the community

By: |

“Contrary to Drake’s insinuation that Greenwich spends a great deal on education, that 46% figure actually ranks far below virtually every other suburban municipality in the state. Indeed, most comparable suburban Connecticut towns allocate a vastly higher percentage of their total budgets, between 60%-75%, to fund their school systems. A key reason that our school system’s budget comprises such a small proportion of the budget is that Greenwich enrolls the smallest percentage of its school-aged children in its public school system of any municipality in Connecticut.” – Sean Goldrick Continue Reading →

Filed under: Letter to the Editor, Opinion, Bill Drake, Board of Estimate and Taxation, Sean Goldrick

Special BET Meeting to Reconsider FY ’21 Budget Amounts to Lengthy Argument over Robert’s Rules, Adjournment

By: |

The BET held a special meeting via Zoom on Tuesday afternoon with just one item on the agenda: to reconsider FY 21 approved budget before it gets sent on to the RTM for approval. The special meeting was scheduled at the request of Democrats on the BET after an outcry from public school parents over cuts to the education budget. The Republican controlled BET had voted last week during a contentious meeting to cut $3 million from the education budget leaving it at current academic year spending levels. The Democrats had proposed instead a $700,000 cut. Despite the meeting lasting only about 40 minutes, and almost 400 people listening on mute, most of the session was taken up by arguments over motions, Robert’s Rules of Order, and consulting the new Town Attorney Vin Marino. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Government, Schools, BET, Board of Estimate and Taxation, David Weisbrod, Jeff Ramer, Karen Fassuliotis, Laura Erickson

First Selectman’s Proposed 20-21 Budget: What’s Cut? What’s Funded?

By: |

Cuts include police directing traffic on Greenwich Avenue. New would be “Pay As You Throw” at the dump. Residents would not have to pay to to recycle, but would be required to purchase special bags for their trash at local retailers. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Government, Board of Education, Board of Estimate and Taxation, Cardinal Field, Cardinal Stadium, Central Middle School, Dept of Public Works, Dorothy Hamill Rink